Canary Islands announces cochineal aid for eligible Fuerteventura producers
Eligible cochineal producers can apply in January 2027 for support covering production and sales during the 2026 calendar year.
Cochineal producers in Fuerteventura and the other Canary Islands can apply for support for their 2026 production and sales under a scheme announced by the Canary Islands Government. Applications will be open from 1 to 31 January 2027, inclusive.
The aid covers cochineal registered under the Cochinilla de Canarias Protected Designation of Origin (PDO). Producers who qualify as professionals under the scheme’s requirements can receive €32 per kilogram produced and marketed; other eligible applicants can receive €16 per kilogram.
Who can apply?
Applicants must be holders of prickly pear plantations registered with the Cochinilla de Canarias PDO. The plantations must be used to produce cochineal and have a regular planting of prickly pear in production during the 2026 season. Applicants must also meet the other conditions of the scheme.
The quantities considered are those produced and marketed between 1 January and 31 December 2026. Applications must be submitted using the designated form through the Canary Islands Government’s electronic portal.
The scheme forms part of POSEI, the European support programme for agricultural production in the Canary Islands, and is financed by the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund.
A link to the islands’ agricultural history
Cochineal is used to obtain carminic acid, a natural colouring. The Canary Islands’ agriculture minister, Narvay Quintero, said cochineal was one of the islands’ principal exports during the 19th century, when European textile manufacturers demanded natural dyes. He said the aid would help sustain a distinctive Canary Islands product recognised by its protected designation of origin.