The farm spreads across 3,000ha of land and milk delivery is put at 580,000 litres.

The co-operative Valle de Odieta is opening the farm and reports vary on the amount of money invested in the operation, with figures claimed to be between €50m and €95m.

The dairy farm, which is located in the small village of Noviercas, in the Zaragoza region, will employ 300 staff alone.

Opposition from farmers

However, the plans for the operation have been met with opposition from farming organisations who say it will have a detrimental effect on other farmers in the area.

Local politician Dabid Anaut said the new operation will encompass practically the number of cows already in the region, which is currently 25,000 and will occupy a quarter of fertile land in the area.

According to reports by Spanish newspaper, El Economista, president of the farmers’ organisation Asaja Soria, Carmelo Gómez Sanz, welcomed the investment, regardless of opinions in the sector.

“We would like that instead of a dairy of 20,000 cows, there would be 20 of 1,000, but reality is telling us that that is impossible.

“We know that there is controversy, the sector may not like it whenever there is competition. But in Soria, there is nothing else, we have to reach everything that comes and this is an investment of €80m that will create jobs,” he added.

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