The Canary Islands Agricultural Exploitation Register (REAC) currently has 20,065 registered farms, as reported on Thursday, 29 October, by the Agricultural Production and Registers Service of the Canary Islands Government during a meeting with industry representatives. Launched in 2025, this initiative aims to improve the management of agricultural aid, enhance production traceability, and bolster food security.
The registration process began last year with the automatic inclusion of 16,107 farms, drawing from data in the Canary Islands Wine Register and applications for agricultural support under the POSEI programme. This initial dataset has formed a foundation for ongoing updates through declarations from farm owners.
Tenerife has the highest number of registered farms at 9,364, followed by La Palma with 5,636, Lanzarote with 2,060, Gran Canaria at 1,569, La Gomera at 697, El Hierro at 665, and Fuerteventura with 67. To date, there have been 4,831 requests for updates, new registrations, and other administrative processes.
Narvay Quintero, the Minister for Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Food Sovereignty, emphasised the necessity of accurate, up-to-date information for better public policy management and increased assurances for producers and consumers. He noted, “REAC helps us understand the realities of our farms and provides vital data for managing aid and tracking production while enhancing food security. It also protects those adhering to the regulations and fosters trust in Canary Islands agricultural products.”
Quintero acknowledged the unique features of Canary Islands agriculture, including fragmented land, diverse crops, and varying production conditions across the islands. “Having precise data on cultivated areas and production helps us address the sector’s needs and make informed decisions,” he added.
To assist farmers with registration and data updates, the Ministry, through the public company GMR Canarias, offers a free administrative support service via the SGA application. From 30 March to 30 September 2026, this service aided 2,350 individuals, complemented by practical manuals and informative materials to help users navigate the system. Interested parties can book an appointment via the email [email protected].
The REAC was established under Decree 18/2025 to comply with the national obligation set by Royal Decree 1054/2022, requiring regions to maintain an agricultural exploitation register as part of the Agricultural, Livestock and Production Agriculture Information System (SIEX). This initiative aligns with European Union regulations concerning Common Agricultural Policy, production traceability, and food security.
Registration is the responsibility of the individual or entity actively managing the farm, regardless of land ownership. Thus, merely owning land doesn’t necessitate registration unless agricultural activities are undertaken. This requirement also applies irrespective of public aid applications and doesn’t affect farms solely for self-consumption.
REAC gathers data regarding farm owners, land parcels, cultivation areas, and types of crops, allowing for streamlined updates without needing repeated registrations each season. This ensures a comprehensive understanding of the agricultural landscape in the Canary Islands, aiding in agricultural policy planning and public aid management.
The application SGA facilitates the registration and modification process, including graphical identification of cultivated areas. REAC is integrated within the SIEX framework and is expanding connections with other official registers to simplify information sharing and reduce data duplication.
Additionally, it links to the Digital Agricultural Exploitation Notebook (CUE), available for free via SGA, enabling the logging of various agricultural operations, including pest treatments.
The data within REAC also supports control and traceability measures for agricultural products and hygiene checks in primary production. It complements the specific documentation needed to verify product origins.
After the initial registration phase, improving and completing the recorded data remains a priority, especially where automatic inclusion may have missed full parcel coverage or essential details.
The Ministry encourages farm owners to review their registered information and report any changes to ensure accurate reflection of agricultural activities on each island. Ongoing improvements to the application and support to farmers, technicians, and collaborating entities will facilitate effective tool use and data updates.
Complete information on REAC, including user manuals and registration procedures, can be found on the Government of Canary Islands’ website: https://www.gobiernodecanarias.org/agricultura/temas/registro-explotaciones/.
For inquiries regarding the procedures, interested parties can contact the Agricultural Production and Registers Service via the email [email protected].
