La Orotava to Implement Stricter Fertilizer Regulations to Curb Farm Odors
The La Orotava City Council is drafting new regulations to mitigate foul odors from agricultural fertilizers by mandating stricter treatment processes and weather-dependent usage restrictions by late 2026.
The balance between traditional farming and growing residential areas in northern Tenerife has reached a breaking point. To address ongoing complaints about foul odors in La Orotava, the local City Council has begun drafting new regulations to improve quality of life for residents while still supporting the local agricultural sector. The new municipal ordinance is expected to be in effect by the end of 2026.
Under the leadership of Mayor Francisco Linares, the council is introducing stricter rules for handling organic fertilizers. Specifically, manure from pig and poultry farms—which is known for its strong smell—must be properly treated before use. Once the rules are in place, farmers will be required to ferment and dehydrate this material, and storing raw, unprocessed manure on farmland will be strictly prohibited.
Narciso Pérez, head of the Department of Planning and Environment, explained that the new system will require farmers to provide advance notice before applying fertilizer. This will allow local police and inspectors to monitor farms and ensure that all technical requirements are being met.
The regulations also account for the island’s weather. When the Canary Islands government issues alerts for high winds or extreme heat—conditions that cause odors to spread more easily—the use of these fertilizers will be automatically banned.
By integrating these environmental safeguards into urban planning, the La Orotava City Council aims to resolve long-standing neighborhood concerns in an area where the line between town and country is increasingly blurred. The formal process for these new rules begins this July.