The origins of Europe’s market garden the small farmers and the agrarian transformation of Almeria (Spain) (1950–1989)

Abstract The study examines the agricultural transformation of Almería (1950-1989), emphasizing its emergence as Europe’s “market garden.” Key factors include state-driven irrigation projects, innovations like soil mulching, greenhouses, and drip irrigation, which boosted productivity and reduced farm sizes. While state intervention was modest, private initiatives and credit institutions accelerated the expansion of intensive, export-oriented agriculture. This shift reshaped land tenure, increasing smallholdings and diminishing traditional large estates, fundamentally altering the region’s agrarian structure.