The Regional Director of Agriculture defended today that farmers should focus on continuous training, innovation and modernisation in order to face challenges and new sustainable agricultural models based on new technologies.

"The future of agriculture in the Azores depends, to a large extent, on the training and qualification of its agents as the new agricultural models are increasingly based on new technologies," said José Élio Ventura. He spoke during the first edition of "Agri Innovation Summit 2017," which ended today in Oeiras.

The meeting, an initiative of the National Government developed in partnership with the European Union, promoted the debate on the concept of digitisation applied to agriculture, now and after 2020, i.e., the replacement of physical support structures by digital platforms that reduce the distance between producers and consumers, thus reducing economic and environmental costs.

"This event allowed participants to become acquainted with and exchange views on what is best done regarding new technologies in the country and in Europe," José Élio Ventura said, stressing that it is "the acquired knowledge that brings advantages to those who carry out their activity in this area."

The "Agri Innovation Summit 201" was attended by the European Commissioners for Agriculture, Phil Hogan, and for Innovation, Carlos Moedas, as well as by the Minister of Agriculture, Capoulas Santos. It also focused on agricultural start-ups and included a contest of ideas.

José Élio Ventura pointed out that the use of new technologies in Azorean agriculture has a favourable framework, bearing in mind that the Region has the youngest farmers in the country. According to him, "this human capital is of utmost importance and should be boosted, seeing that the agents of the sector are better prepared to use new technologies."

The Regional Director also considered that innovation, training, research and experimentation are essential for enhancing the competitiveness of Azorean agriculture as well as for increasing the levels of farm efficiency and farmers' income.

"We can conclude that the digitisation of agriculture and information systems are absolutely essential for making the best decisions in agriculture," the government official said, adding that, after the impetus of the industrial revolution and the genetic revolution, agriculture now enters in a new phase - the phase of new technologies.

Speaking on the sidelines of the event, José Élio Ventura reiterated the Regional Government's invitation to the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Phil Hogan, to visit the Azores.