The first of three discussion forums with all the parties involved in the milk sector to be held on São Miguel, Terceira and Faial will take place at the S. Miguel Exhibition Park on March 9 at 9:30 AM. It will focus on the analysis of new challenges that the production, processing and marketing of milk are currently facing.

The meeting will feature guest speaker Capoulas Santos, former minister of Agriculture and former MEP. He was distinguished by "the Parliament" magazine with the award for best MEP in the area of agriculture and rural development in the last term. His paper will address the challenges and opportunities arising from the revision of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

In turn, João Lança, representative of the Azores at the Permanent Representation of Portugal to the European Union (REPER) will deliver a paper on the analysis and market trends from the standpoint of regulation.

The potentialities and the application rules for the use of the "Azores Brand" by the milk sector will be presented by the President of the Society for the Business Development of the Azores (SDEA), Arnaldo Machado.

In addition to guest speakers, the Milk Forum also counts on the participation of the president of the Azores Agricultural Federation, Jorge Rita, the representative of the National Association of Dairy Industries, Paulo Costa Leite, and the President of LactAçores, Gil Jorge Oliveira.

The Government of the Azores also invited industry representatives and associations, Members of the European Parliament and the University of the Azores to take part in this meeting, which includes a period of analysis and debate.

The conclusions of the I Milk Forum will be publicly presented during a joint press conference to be held at the meeting room of S. Miguel Exhibition Park in Santana, municipality of Ribeira Grande, at 3:30 PM.

As announced earlier this year by the Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Environment, Luís Neto Viveiros, this initiative aims to "closely follow the evolution of markets" and "create the measures deemed necessary" to address the evolution of the most immediate consequences arising from the end of the milk quota system in the European Union and establish common strategies for the medium and long-term.