The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry stated that the Regional Strategy Centre for Azores Meat- CERCA is another important tool to strengthen the meat industry and increase producers' income, involving several partners.
 
"We have congregated the will and powers of several entities towards the strengthening of the meat industry so that we may improve the performance of this sector, which has been growing in recent times," said João Ponte. The government official spoke Monday after signing the notarial deed in Ponta Delgada.
 
The Autonomous Region of the Azores, the Azores Agricultural Federation and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Azores are the founding members of CERCA. In turn, the remaining associations and cooperatives linked to the sector will hold the status of ordinary members. They may have the same rights and duties as the founding members at their request.
 
João Ponte pointed out that the mission of CERCA is to find and improve mechanisms for promoting, enhancing, advising and analysing national and international markets towards the strengthening of the meat industry.
 
This private and nonprofit association also intends to encourage scientific and technical studies, covering different socioeconomic aspects of the sector in the Region. Moreover, it contributes to consumer education by promoting actions that disseminate the benefits associated with consumption of meat, namely of grazing animals.
 
João Ponte considered that it is necessary to take greater advantage of environmental quality, high health status, genetics of excellence, animal welfare and food safety in the archipelago.
 
"Our expectations are the greatest. Now, we are going to start working in a coordinated manner," the Regional Secretary said, adding that organisation is fundamental for the meat industry. By being well organised and achieving a certain size, "it will be easier to enhance the value" of products.
 
The Azores produce high quality meat as a result of the efforts of agricultural entrepreneurs and public investments in support infrastructures for the sector, namely the construction of a new and modern regional slaughter network.
 
João Ponte pointed out that the Government will open next year the new slaughterhouses of Faial and Graciosa as well as conclude the ongoing works in the slaughtering units of Terceira and São Miguel, which will have increased cold storage capacity and better operating conditions.
 
"In recent years, there has been a paradigm shift. We used to export live animals and now we mainly export carcasses, which brings increased added value for producers from an economic perspective," the government official said, adding that we must now take a step forward and invest in the cutting of carcasses.