Por Ismael Buendia 
The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Ramón Fernández-Pacheco, has closed the event for the presentation of the 2025 Ranking of the largest Andalusian companies prepared by the magazine Andalucía Económica. During his speech, he emphasized the increasingly prominent role of Andalusian agri-food companies, which have climbed positions in this edition of the ranking.
«The significant weight that the agri-food sector has achieved this year is not a coincidence: it is the confirmation of a trend», stated the minister, who wanted to congratulate all the recognized companies. «You are all examples of excellence, job creation, innovation, and commitment to our land,» he assured.
Fernández-Pacheco highlighted the strength of the Andalusian agri-food industry, which leads European exports and excels in areas such as food safety, sustainability, and innovation. «Andalusia is an agri-food power in Europe. We are not saying it, the data is,» he said.
As reported by the magazine Andalucía Económica, up to 58 agrarian or agri-industrial companies have experienced the most significant growth in 2024. Among them: Unioliva from Jaén, with over 120%; Almazaras de la Subbética and Confeticakes from Córdoba, with 102.5% and 89%, respectively; and Campojoyma from Almería, with 71.4%.
During his speech, the minister recalled that since 2019, the Andalusian government has allocated over 359 million euros in grants for agri-food transformation and commercialization. «And in the second half of this year, we will launch a new call for proposals worth 88 million euros, of which 66 will go to SMEs and 22 to large companies. Supporting our agri-food industries is investing in the region, employment, and rural balance,» he emphasized.
He also mentioned that the government is finalizing the First Agri-industry Strategy of Andalusia, a roadmap that will guide until 2027 and has been designed in coordination with the Ministry of Industry. «Its goal is clear: to continue strengthening the leadership of our agri-industry, consolidate markets, and progress towards a fairer distribution of value along the food chain,» he explained.
The event, held at the School of Industrial Organization (EOI), was attended by entrepreneurs and representatives from the Andalusian economic and business world.
«The Andalusian business fabric has shown that it is ready to face challenges with talent, ambition, and a vision for the future,» concluded the minister, thanking Andalucía Económica for its work as a «voice of progress and economic dynamism in Andalusia.»