Tenerife Faces Agricultural Decline as Tourism Shift Sparks Fire Safety Concerns

Over the past 60 years, Tenerife’s economy has undergone a massive transformation, moving away from its traditional roots. In the 1960s, agriculture, livestock, and fishing were the island’s primary employers, supporting nearly 46% of the workforce. Today, that figure has plummeted to just 2%.

This 95% decline does not mean the island has lost its ability to produce food; rather, it reflects a shift toward tourism, construction, and services. As these sectors grew, the agricultural workforce aged, and fewer young people chose to take over family farms. Despite this, data from the Canary Islands Institute of Statistics (ISTAC) shows that over 10,000 people still work in the primary sector. These workers manage 43% of the archipelago’s cultivated land, producing nearly 385,000 tons of goods annually.

However, this shift has created a paradox. While the land is still there, urban growth and changing rural demographics have altered how farming is viewed. Geographer Wladimiro Rodríguez Brito warns that the decline in farming is about more than just food production; it also affects how the landscape is managed. When terraces and paths are abandoned, vegetation builds up, increasing the risk of forest fires—a major concern for an island where residential areas and forests are often close together.

To address these challenges, local authorities are pushing for change. The Island Council of Tenerife is calling on the European Union to strengthen support programs (POSEI) and implement safeguards to ensure local farmers can compete fairly with imports from outside the EU.

The goal is to move beyond simple economic metrics. Officials are now focused on cutting red tape and encouraging young people to enter the industry. Ultimately, the challenge is to shift from a cycle of abandonment to a model that recognizes and rewards farmers and ranchers for the vital role they play in protecting the island’s environment and safety.