A recent report featured on À Punt’sLa Via Verda programme, a regional public television channel in Valencia, has highlighted the renewed importance of the carob tree following the Carob Days held during the EFI Mediterranean Network Forum in March 2026.
Traditionally associated with hardship, carob is now being rediscovered as a crop with significant potential. The programme outlined its wide range of uses, from animal feed to food products for human consumption, as well as its role in the food and cosmetics industries through derivatives from the carob seed.
One of the key messages of the report is the growing relevance of carob in the face of climate change. As a dryland crop requiring limited water, it offers a sustainable alternative in regions increasingly affected by drought and rising temperatures. Its resilience makes it particularly suited to Mediterranean conditions, where agricultural systems are under increasing pressure.
From tradition to innovation in the value chain
The report also followed participants of the international forum as they visited a family-run processing company in Cheste, a municipality near Valencia with a long-standing tradition in carob production. With more than a century of history, the company Productos Jordán processes up to 20,000 tonnes annually, demonstrating the economic importance of a well-developed value chain. Industry representatives stressed that such businesses are key to maintaining the viability of the crop.
The forum brought together experts from 28 countries across Europe, Africa and beyond, reflecting growing international interest. Countries such as Australia, Canada and South Africa are exploring carob cultivation, attracted by its adaptability to similar climatic conditions and its potential in emerging markets.
Field research and collaboration driving future resilience
Another highlight of the visit was a nearby experimental orchard, where different carob varieties are being tested for productivity and resilience under changing climatic conditions. These sites bring together traditional agricultural knowledge and scientific research, creating living laboratories that not only inform current practices but also guide future plantations.
Within this broader context, the report underlines how carob, once largely overlooked, is steadily regaining importance. It suggests that unlocking its full potential will depend on stronger collaboration across the sector, with farmers, industry and research institutions working together to support a more resilient and sustainable model for Mediterranean agriculture.
This article presents an English summary of the audiovisual report below, which is available only in Valencian with some sections in Spanish.
