Aragón approves 500,000 euros in aid against bacterial blight
The subsidy plan for fruit growers in Aragón
The Government of Aragón published on August 19, 2025, in the Official Gazette of Aragón the Order AGA/1005/2025, establishing for the first time a specific subsidy plan to combat bacterial blight in pear and quince trees. This measure represents the first direct intervention since this disease was detected in the region over a decade ago.
The plan has an initial investment of 500,000 euros, financed exclusively with the Department of Agriculture, Livestock, and Food’s own funds. This strategy has been defined as progressive in the medium term, responding to a long-standing demand from the sector throughout the region, especially in areas such as the vicinity of Calatayud.
Measures included and beneficiaries
Objective: The order sets out the rules for granting aid that allows fruit growers to carry out varietal reconversion in the affected areas.
Beneficiaries: Pear and quince tree operations affected that meet the established requirements, including being up to date on tax and Social Security obligations.
Lines of aid: The subsidies cover actions such as the removal of diseased plantings and replanting with more resistant varieties.
Processing: The process is conducted electronically, requires less documentation if already held by the Administration, and is based on objective and transparent criteria.
The infectious disease has experienced notable expansion in recent years, especially in the region of Calatayud, where practically all 470 hectares dedicated to this type of fruit tree in the area are affected. Bacterial blight, caused by the bacterium Erwinia amylovora, causes necrosis in leaves, flowers, and branches that turn black as if burned by fire. The disease spreads rapidly through insects, water, wind, pruning tools, or contact between plants, and can destroy entire plantings in a short time.
The plan is accompanied by technical workshops and information sessions alongside professionals to facilitate a joint, orderly, and participatory reconversion in the farms affected by this disease.
