Papaya cultivation in Spain is gaining ground, and CapGen Seeds is driving it through technical visits to papaya growers in Tenerife and Gran Canaria. Following the success of PAPAYALAB 2023, on 12–13 November we brought together growers, distributors and experts from mainland Spain and the Canary Islands, reaffirming our commitment to developing this crop.

Innovation in Papaya Cultivation: The Canary Islands as a Benchmark

These technical sessions allowed attendees to explore the good agronomic practices that have positioned the Canary Islands as a benchmark in papaya cultivation. Participants toured key farms, observing advanced management techniques and marketing strategies, which are essential to guarantee the quality and sustainability of the product. They also discussed the adaptation of these techniques to the southeast of the peninsula, where papaya cultivation is emerging with a promising future.

Emerging Opportunity on the Peninsula

While in the Canary Islands papaya is already an established crop, in the peninsula it is presented as an innovative opportunity. Mainland producers, interested in diversifying their crops, identified the climatic conditions of southeastern Spain as ideal for replicating the success of the Canary Islands. The possibility of positioning papaya as a competitive product in European markets was one of the key points of the meeting.

Papaya: A Superfood with Great Potential

During the conference, the nutritional benefits of papaya were highlighted, such as its high content of vitamin C, antioxidants and enzymes such as papain, which make it a healthy option for consumers concerned about their wellbeing. This superfood is recognised for its ability to strengthen the immune system and improve digestion, which increases its demand in national and international markets.

Collaboration and Sustainable Future

CapGen Seeds underlined its vision of connecting knowledge between territories to create new agricultural opportunities. Following the visits, strategies to increase the visibility of papaya in Europe were discussed, consolidating the role of CapGen Seeds as a leader in the promotion of innovative crops. Attendees showed great interest in further strengthening this collaborative network, anticipating new editions of PAPAYALAB and future technical meetings.

With these initiatives, CapGen Seeds reaffirms its commitment to sustainability and innovation in the agricultural sector, positioning papaya as a profitable and high-value alternative for both local and international markets.

Agronomic keys to papaya cultivation in Spain

Papaya cultivation in Spain is concentrated today in the Canary Islands, where the subtropical climate allows quality fruit to be produced for much of the year. The seminars addressed the factors that most influence the result: choosing adapted varieties, managing the greenhouse to protect the crop from wind and low temperatures, irrigation and nutrition, and pest and disease control with a focus on sustainability. Technicians stressed the importance of starting from genetics suited to each area — something CapGen Seeds works on through its papaya breeding programme.

Transferring this knowledge to the south-east of the mainland (Almería, Granada and Murcia) is one of the ways for papaya cultivation in Spain to keep growing, taking advantage of existing greenhouse structures and proximity to European markets.

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