Tenerife's New Abattoir Declared Of Island Interest
Tenerife's Cabildo has declared a new, modern abattoir project, designed to replace the outdated facility and process cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs, as being of 'island interest,' with construction hoped to begin next year and public consultation currently underway.
A new abattoir (slaughterhouse) for the island is planned. It will be built next to the existing one in the Los Rodeos Regional Agricultural Park, El Ortigal (La Laguna), on a plot measuring 17,094 square meters. This new facility will replace the outdated current one, and the Cabildo (island government) hopes to start construction next year. The project is currently being reviewed to be officially recognized as important for the island. For one month, the public can review the plans and landowners affected by the project are being consulted, as announced in the Official Gazette of the Canary Islands (BOC).
The new abattoir will handle cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs, featuring three separate slaughter lines. It will be a two-story industrial building with 6,000 square meters of usable space. The design also allows for future expansions, such as moving the current rabbit abattoir there. It will incorporate the most up-to-date technology available in the industry.
The project will use two plots of land owned by the Cabildo. The existing abattoir sits on one of these plots, which will be used to expand the wastewater treatment plant. The other plot will house the new abattoir building and all its related facilities. After looking at different options, the island government chose to only expand what was absolutely necessary to make sure the project is feasible in the near future.
In July 2024, the Tenerife Cabildo's full council unanimously approved declaring the new abattoir project as being of 'island interest.' This project is championed by the Department of Primary Sector and Animal Welfare, headed by Valentín González. He explained that the process was sped up by the Directorate of Strategic Projects, led by Alicia Leirachá, who handled the paperwork. This directorate was set up during the current term to "activate and accelerate procedures to advance infrastructures considered strategic for the Island."
Both Valentín González and Alicia Leirachá agree that the abattoir is not only strategic but also "vital for the growth of livestock farming in Tenerife." They stressed that the new facilities will meet all relevant health standards. González particularly emphasized the need for an industry "that adapts to European regulations and, naturally, to the current demands of the livestock sector."
The goal of this 'island interest' project, as explained by both Popular Party representatives, is to "plan and build a key agro-industrial facility for primary livestock use on the island, enabling the creation of the New Island Abattoir." Following its declaration of island interest in 2024, the Environmental Assessment Commission of Tenerife issued the project's scope document later that year.
The company Matadero Insular de Tenerife, a mixed public-private venture, handles the processing of local meat (preparing animals for sale or consumption). Its output has grown considerably since the pandemic. In 2022, 4,272,000 kilograms of fresh local meat were processed, up from 3,881,000 kilograms in 2019. This increase of just over 10% is linked to higher local consumption.
Matadero de Tenerife was founded in 1993 as a Public Limited Company. The Cabildo owns 33% of its shares, with the remaining shares held by municipal councils and various businesses in the livestock, butchery, and industrial sectors. While it functions as a private or mixed company, the service is managed under a contract with the island Corporation. In 2021, the Corporation stated its intention to take over direct management, but this transition is still ongoing.