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Across parts of southwestern Spain, something quiet has been happening for years. No smoke. No dramatic headlines. No sudden disaster for people to point at. Just trees slowly losing strength. Leaves thin out. Branches dry. Entire oaks that stood for decades begin to decline until, eventually, they die. Locals call it "la seca." And for the people who depend on Spain's dehesa landscapes, it has become one of the biggest environmental worries in the region. Now, researchers in Extremadura may have found something that offers a bit of hope. Not a chemical treatment. A biological one. The Problem Is Bigger Than One Disease "La seca" is often described as a disease, but it is not really that simple. It behaves more like a decline process. Trees weaken over time. Their root systems struggle with water and nutrient uptake drops. Stress builds. One major suspect behind all this is Phytophthora cinnamomi, a soil pathogen that attacks roots and has been linked to oak de...

Every year, the Iberian pork sector awaits one moment that can change everything: the montanera season. It’s the period when Iberian pigs roam freely through Spain’s dehesa landscapes, feeding on acorns and natural pastures. And according to producers like FISAN, the 2025–2026 montanera is shaping up to be something quite special. For farmers and producers, this stage isn’t just another step in the production process. It’s the moment where nature does most of the work. And when conditions are right… the results can be extraordinary. A Season That Started a Little Late This year’s montanera began slightly later than usual, starting around mid-November instead of early autumn. At first, that raised a few concerns in the sector. Delays sometimes mean unpredictable conditions for the pigs and for the acorn harvest. But as the weeks passed, the outlook changed. Pastures grew well, water reserves were sufficient,t and the acorns developed in a fairly balanced way. Bit by bit, producers bega...

In the southwest of Spain, surrounded by the rolling landscapes of Extremadura, the historic town of Jerez de los Caballeros is getting ready for a celebration that means a lot more than just handing out trophies. This year, the town will host the Porc d’Or Ibérico Awards, one of the most important recognitions in Spain’s pig farming sector. The event is expected to bring together farmers, researchers, industry experts, and institutions from across the country. For many of them, it’s not only an awards ceremony, but it’s also a chance to reconnect with colleagues, exchange ideas, and celebrate the work that goes on behind the scenes of one of Spain’s most valued agricultural traditions. A Key Event for the Iberian Pig Sector The Porc d’Or Ibérico Awards recognize excellence in Iberian pig farming. Organized by the Institute for Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA), the awards focus on farms that demonstrate outstanding management, productivity, and animal welfare. But winning one o...

Every year, as autumn settles over the Spanish countryside, something quiet but important begins to happen across the dehesa landscapes of Spain. Acorns start falling from the oak trees, and Iberian pigs are released into open pastures to begin what farmers call la montanera. For outsiders, it might simply look like pigs wandering through woodland. But for producers, this period is everything. It’s the stage that ultimately determines the flavor, texture, and prestige of Iberian pork products. What Is the Montanera? The montanera is the final feeding phase in the life of the Iberian pig. It usually takes place between October and February, when holm oaks and cork oaks drop their acorns across the dehesa. During these months, the pigs roam freely across large stretches of land. They feed mainly on acorns called “bellotas”  and natural grasses they find while grazing. Unlike intensive farming systems, in which animals are kept stationary, the animals here move constantly. They walk ...

For a few days in early February, the quiet comarca of Los Pedroches stopped feeling so quiet. Researchers, farmers, environmentalists, and food experts arrived from across Spain and Portugal and even further afield, all drawn by something small, almost humble: the acorn. From February 4 to 6, 2026, the region hosted the VI Iberian Acorn Conference , turning this northern corner of Córdoba into an international meeting point for those who care deeply about the dehesa. And here, the dehesa isn't an abstract concept. It's the landscape itself. Rolling fields scattered with ancient holm oaks, pigs roaming freely beneath their shade, dry grass shimmering under winter light. It feels timeless. But it isn't invincible. The conference, organised with the support of the University of Córdoba and the Cofradía Ibérica de la Bellota, brought together more than sixty specialists. Some arrived with scientific papers and climate data. Others came with muddy boots and generational knowle...