The Canary Islands cochineal is included in the PDR 2014-2020.

The achievement is the result of the initiative of the Association of Cochineal Breeders and Exporters of the Canary Islands that process a figure of differentiated quality.

The Canary Islands is the only territory in the EU where cochineal is produced for marketing and, In addition, there are several factors that determine the specific character and unique of the product as they are a only type of guest, in reference to the prickly pear Opuntia ficus and a single type of insect, alluding to the Dactylopius coccus or mealybug.

The cultivation of prickly pear and cochineal is an ecological task, practically unaffected by pests, and helps soil maintenance, avoiding erosion and also offering the possibility of taking advantage of the fruit of the tunera for its commercialization. Besides this, insect is perfectly naturalized in our Archipelago as well as its food.

The Canary cochineal can be considered today as a real opportunity and a potential source of wealth for the Canary Islands.

In the last legislature from the Government of the Canary Islands, through the Canarian Institute of Agrifood Quality dependent on the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Pesca y Aguas worked in close collaboration and collaboration with the cochineal producers of the islands, in the preparation of the necessary Documentation to request before the European Union the registration for the Protected Designation of Origin (DOP) “Cochineal Canary Islands”.