The hidden cost of tomatoes 🍅 | DW Documentary

Key Concepts:

• Intensive agriculture in Almería, Spain ("the orchard of Europe")
• Plastic greenhouse farming
• Environmental impact of plastic waste
• Illegal labor and worker exploitation
• Undocumented workers
• Substandard living conditions

Environmental Impact of Plastic Greenhouses

Almería, Spain, produces over half of Spain's tomato exports and is known as "the orchard of Europe" due to its massive fruit and vegetable production. This production relies heavily on approximately 40,000 hectares of plastic greenhouses, creating a "sea of plastic" that caters to Europe's year-round demand. A significant environmental problem arises from the inadequate disposal of plastic waste generated by these greenhouses. Only about one-third of the plastic is properly recycled or disposed of. The remaining plastic accumulates in illegal dumps, often contaminated with pesticides, posing a threat to the environment and potentially human health.

Illegal Labor and Worker Exploitation

Beneath the environmental issues lies a severe problem of illegal labor and exploitation. Many undocumented individuals gather daily by roadsides, seeking work in the greenhouses. These workers often endure long hours in extreme heat, receiving wages below the legal minimum. After work, they return to makeshift shelters lacking basic amenities such as electricity, running water, and toilets. This exploitation occurs within the European Union, highlighting a significant social and ethical issue.

Conclusion

The video exposes the dark side of Almería's intensive agricultural industry. While the region provides a significant portion of Europe's produce, it comes at a high cost to the environment due to plastic waste mismanagement and to the workers who face exploitation and substandard living conditions. The situation raises concerns about the sustainability and ethical implications of current agricultural practices in the region.