Regional Government marks International Day of Plant Health by modernising agricultural warning network - Communication

Secretaria Regional da Agricultura e Alimentação

On International Day of Plant Health, observed today, the Regional Government, through the Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Food, reiterates its commitment to food security and the sustainability of the primary sector by modernising the Azores Agricultural Monitoring and Warning Network (RMAAA).

In an island region characterised by its high biodiversity, this infrastructure plays a critical role in preventing pests and diseases, preserving ecosystems and ensuring the competitiveness of regional production.

For the Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Food, António Ventura, “protecting plant health is about protecting agricultural production, farmers’ income and the balance of ecosystems.”

The government official emphasised that strengthening the RMAAA enables “the sector to be better equipped in terms of preventing problems and having better tools to respond to current challenges, with more information, greater accuracy and greater sustainability.”

Operated by the Regional Directorate for Agriculture, Veterinary Affairs and Food (DRAVA), the network is now a key infrastructure for integrated crop protection.

Currently, the system comprises 105 Biological Observation Posts (BOP) and 55 Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) distributed throughout the archipelago.

This technological network ensures continuous territorial coverage, contributing to the collection of vital climate data to feed into forecasting models, anticipating risks and tailoring technical recommendations to the specific microclimates of each island.

All biological and meteorological information collected converges in real time on the RMAAA digital platform, which processes the data, generates alerts and issues warnings with specific recommendations.

Hence, the network ensures that technical knowledge reaches farmers quickly and clearly, promoting an increasingly preventive and efficient action.

The operation of this entire system is based on a collaborative model involving the Island Agrarian Development Services, associations and cooperatives, always in close coordination with the Azores Agricultural Federation.

In addition to providing direct, daily support to farms, RMAAA plays a key role as the first line of defence in monitoring emerging and quarantine pests, and in ensuring coordination with national and European networks.

“With this reinforcement, we are consolidating RMAAA as a strategic tool for knowledge, prevention and innovation, essential for tackling climate change and globalisation challenges,” stressed António Ventura.

The Secretary for Agriculture reiterated the Government’s commitment to a response that “boosts productivity, reduces risks and safeguards the archipelago’s invaluable agricultural and environmental heritage.”

Farmers and technicians interested in accessing the daily information produced by RMAAA can consult the agricultural warnings and advisories, and register for free on the official platform at https://avisos.agricultura.azores.gov.pt/.