The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Environment stated in Ponta Delgada that the quality of agricultural products "will be increasingly based on ecological parameter, being in compliance with the principles of integrated protection."
 
"This is intended to preserve agricultural ecosystems and promote biodiversity, being the fundamental pillars for a Region such as the Azores," stressed Luís Neto Viveiros. He spoke at the opening of a seminar "Safety in Handling and Application of Plant Protection Products."

The Regional Secretary highlighted the "huge importance" of this initiative involving several national and regional entities. In this context, he stressed that plant protection products should be, on the one hand, "affordable and accessible" and, on the other hand, "reveal efficacy in combating harmful organisms while respecting human beings and the environment.”
 
"All agents involved in the storage, handling, preparation and application of plant protection products should act responsibly and competently either in companies authorised the marketing and application of products or in farms," said Neto Viveiros.
 
The government official stressed that scientific breakthrough "should also be directed towards the reduction of environmental risks and impacts while assuring the credibility and value of agricultural activity associated with the use of plant protection products."
 
Furthermore, Neto Viveiros emphasised that "integrated products consists in a thorough evaluation of all available plant protection methods," adding that "the regular updating of knowledge technicians and farmers" is a priority for the Government of the Azores.
 
"In this area, the Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and the Environment has allocated over half a million Euros to training activities in the last four years," Neto Viveiros said, highlighting the training courses for applicators and professionals qualification on integrated plant protection and organic farming.