The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry announced that he will develop, together with the operators working in this activity, a plan for organic farming and production.
 
João Ponte believes that "the definition of a regional political strategy is imperative under the National Strategy for Organic Agriculture in order to support the sustainable growth of this production system. This will be achieved through appropriate measures and actions that fit the current supply and demand requirements, thus meeting the goals of Europe 2020 strategy and the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)."
 
The Regional Secretary spoke last night at the opening session of the seminar on Strategies for Agricultural Development - The Role of Organic Farming in Regional Context, an event organised by Bio Azórica Cooperative in Angra do Heroísmo.
 
Organic production increasingly positions itself as an opportunity for Azorean agriculture and agricultural diversification, being a strategic goal set by the Government for the sector.
 
The focus on organic farming is an aspiration of the XII Regional Government of the Azores. Its programme includes the provision of incentives and the promotion of technical guidelines for the development of integrated production and consolidation of niches for organic production.
 
As regards to the diversification of production, the Regional Government intends to improve organisation and integration within and between the various ranks of agricultural diversification. Moreover, it also aims to promote the marketing and consumption of local products, improve training and information and increase the practice of organic farming.
 
The organic production method has not been forgotten in the context of Community programmes running in the Azores. This is evidenced by the Axis for the Promotion of Sustainable Production Methods under PRORURAL+.
 
The Organic Production Method has registered a very positive development in the Azores in recent years. From the 22 registered producers in 2005, we have grown to 93 registered producers in 2016; 47 producers are located on the island of Terceira.
 
As for the total area under conversion or already in organic production, it increased from 68 hectares in 2005 to over 660 hectares in 2016.
 
Although there are already some companies exporting organic products outside the Region, the majority of production is for local consumption.
 
The services of the Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry have played a proactive role on various islands to promote organic production methods. This goal has been achieved through the implementation of several activities, the introduction of new cultures and crops using the greenhouse cultivation system, the testing of vegetable varieties and the promotion of vegetable seed collection to make the islands self-sufficient.
 
The Azorean Government also supported the creation of Organic Vegetable Gardens at several educational establishments and the organisation of training courses and workshops on Organic Farming, often in collaboration with municipalities or schools, directed at new potential producers.
 
João Ponte believes that "this is an activity with a future and could be crucial in the ongoing agricultural diversification of the archipelago."
 
To organic producers, the Regional Secretary left a word of encouragement," assuring that they may rely on the Regional Government for the implementation of their projects towards the development of the entire Region."