The Regional Director for Agriculture stressed in Funchal the importance of the Multi-sectoral Technological Platform of Macaronesia (PTM-MAC) for the sustainable development of the regions belonging that make up it. The government official also highlighted the commitment to the common goal of putting knowledge and research at the service of Agriculture.

"We are all focused on the same goal, which is to turn Macaronesia into a hub, spread across several research and innovation centres that will contribute to sustained development," said Fernando Sousa. The government official spoke at the Agri-Food Forum, an event taking place at the University of Madeira until Friday.

For two days, participants will attend the presentation of the RIS3 strategies developed by the Autonomous Regions of Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands as well as to the presentation of various research projects with companies in the agri-food sector.

The Regional Director stressed that this issue "is of paramount importance for all of those who are linked to the agricultural sector," directly and indirectly. In this context, the government official noted the potential of PTM-MAC is "vast" and is based "on the fundamental premise of putting science at the service of their communities."

With regard to the importance of knowledge, Fernando Sousa stressed that the Regional Government has created "a consolidated training structure for the medium and long-term" to which farmers have responded positively. In fact, all free courses provided by the Government were filled. In 2014, these courses covered a total of 2,000 farmers.

For Fernando Sousa, this means that farmers are aware of "the advantages of training in their daily activities" and the contribution it can provide to the "improvement of their income, making them more competitive."

"We can only thrive in this sector with the application of scientific knowledge and innovation," said the government official, defending that "they should be at the reach of farmers so that they can successfully apply them."

In this regard, the government official considered the possibility of PTM-MAC to "integrate projects that will enable the transposition" and implementation of the scientific work, thus creating "a platform of synergies and partnerships aimed at the sustainable development of agriculture and agri-food sectors of our regions."

The project Technology Platform Multi-sectoral Macaronesia, which was presented in May, provides for the promotion of cooperation and the creation of joint initiatives to facilitate the internationalization of companies Macaronesia.
 
Coordinated by the University of La Laguna, this project encompasses the universities of the Azores and Madeira, ASINTE, the Maritime Cluster of the Canary Island, the Gaspar Frutuoso Foundation, ARDITI and the Ministry of Higher Education of Cape Verde.

Fernando Sousa met with the Regional Director for Agriculture of Madeira last Wednesday. This working meeting addressed the agricultural realities of each of Autonomous Region.