Regional Government secures €15.8 million in EU funding for agroforestry circular economy project - Communication

Secretaria Regional da Agricultura e Alimentação

The Government of the Azores, through the Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Food, will coordinate the LIFE IP AGRILOOP project, recently approved by the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) under the LIFE-2024 call for proposals.

This Strategic Integrated Project (SIP) – one of seven approved at a European level – represents an overall investment of €26.36 million and secures 60% co-financing from the European Union.

This support measure takes the form of an injection of €15.82 million into the Region through the LIFE Programme, the European Union’s main instrument dedicated to the environment, nature and climate action.

Having started on January 1, 2026 and with a total duration of 126 months (until 2036), the main mission of LIFE IP AGRILOOP is to support the implementation of the Roadmap for the Circular Economy in the Agroforestry Sector of the Autonomous Region of the Azores, aligning the archipelago with the European Green Deal.

The work plan provides for the development of capacity-building initiatives, technology demonstrations, pilot projects and applied research.

The aim is to promote more efficient and innovative practices, supporting the sector’s transition towards environmentally responsible models focused on the efficient management of resources.

The project is coordinated by the Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Food, through the Agrarian Development Services, the Regional Directorate for Forest Resources and Spatial Planning, and the Regional Directorate for Agriculture, Veterinary and Food.

The consortium also includes, as beneficiaries, IROA, S.A., IAMA, BIOAÇORES, KAIRÓS Cooperative and Serralharia do Outeiro.

In addition, the Regional Directorate for the Environment and Climate Action and the Regional Directorate for Rural Development are participating in the initiative as associate partners.

For the Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Food, António Ventura, LIFE IP AGRILOOP “is a decisive step towards establishing the Azores as a benchmark for sustainability in the agroforestry sector.”

“This project reflects our commitment to innovation, efficiency and the circular economy, bringing together public entities and sector partners in a collective strategy to protect natural resources and boost the Region’s competitiveness,” stated the government official.

The minister concluded by highlighting the initiative’s international reach: “We are proud to lead a project that places the Azores at the forefront of European environmental and climate policies.”