Regional Government strengthens Agricultural Monitoring Network to support farmers across all islands
3rd Santa Maria Agricultural Trade Fair Biennial begins Thursday
Genetic preservation of Ramo Grande breed further strengthened with new collection
Welcome to the website of the Regional Directorate for Agriculture, Veterinary, and Food.
The Regional Directorate for Agriculture, Veterinary, and Food (DRAVA) is a department of the Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Food (SRAA) responsible for assisting in the development of public policies related to agriculture and livestock farming.
In addition to conducting annual training, awareness-raising activities, and scientific studies, DRAVA is tasked with supervising, promoting, and enhancing the quality of Azorean agricultural production. This includes encouraging agricultural diversification, supporting organic farming, ensuring animal and plant health, and maintaining public veterinary hygiene.
The department also oversees the following services:
1. Directorate of Veterinary Services and the Regional Veterinary Laboratory;
2. Directorate of Agriculture Services, the Regional Plant Health Laboratory, and the Regional Oenology Laboratory; and
3. Administrative, Financial, and Planning Section.
March 9, 2026
Regional Government strengthens Agricultural Monitoring Network to support farmers across all islands
The Azorean Government, through the Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Food, is strengthening the Azores Agricultural Monitoring and Warning Network (RMAAA), an infrastructure considered strategic for the integrated protection and sustainability of regional crops. Managed by the Regional Directorate for Agriculture, Veterinary and Food (DRAVA), this network combines plant health and weather monitoring with the issuance of timely warnings. The main goal is to anticipate risks associated with pests and diseases, allowing farmers and technicians to reduce the unnecessary application of plant protection products. Currently, the infrastructure includes 55 Automatic Weather Stations (EMAs) and 105 Biological Observation Posts (POBs) distributed throughout the archipelago: Terceira (24), Santa Maria (19), São Miguel (15), Graciosa (12), Pico (11), São Jorge (nine), Faial (nine), Flores (three) and Corvo (three). At these stations, traps and direct observations are used to systematically track organisms that are harmful to the sector, such as the fruit fly, spotted wing drosophila, the Japanese beetle, the banana root borer, as well as fungal diseases such as mildew and powdery mildew in vineyards. All the climatic and biological information collected feeds into advanced forecasting models and is integrated into a digital platform and mobile application. This technology issues accurate risk warnings and provides technical recommendations to producers in real time. For the Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Food, António Ventura, the RMAAA "represents a key pillar for the modernisation of agriculture and the sustainable protection of crops on all the islands of the archipelago." "Today, more than ever, strengthening this infrastructure means giving farmers better conditions to anticipate risks, plan interventions with greater safety and reduce the unnecessary use of plant protection products. It is about investing in knowledge, innovation and the resilience of our agricultural sector," stressed the government official. António Ventura also ensured that this technological and proximity improvement is "a decisive step to guarantee that Azorean agriculture continues to be a benchmark for quality, sustainability and protection of natural resources." Data collection in the field, which has been carried out in collaboration with associations and cooperatives, is now undergoing a gradual transition to the Island Agrarian Development Services, consolidating the technical capacity of the regional public administration. Interested farmers and technicians can consult all warnings, access agricultural notices, and register on the digital platform via the following email address: https://avisos.agricultura.azores.gov.pt/.
September 9, 2025
3rd Santa Maria Agricultural Trade Fair Biennial begins Thursday
The Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Food, through the Regional Directorate for Agriculture, Veterinary and Food, in partnership with the Santa Maria Agricultural Association, is promoting the 3rd Santa Maria Agricultural Trade Fair Biennial, which will take place between September 11 and 14, 2025, on Avenida de Santa Maria, next to the former football pitch. This year's edition includes two major events: the Regional Beekeeping Forum, with conferences, workshops and demonstrations, and the 3rd Charolais Breed Conference, featuring lectures, competitions and more. The 3rd Agricultural Trade Fair Biennial and the Azores Regional Beekeeping Forum, in particular, highlight Santa Maria's role as a hub for agricultural and beekeeping innovation, promoting quality products and recognising the value of Azorean rural culture. The Regional Beekeeping Forum opens with technical visits, practical workshops, and thematic conferences, bringing together experts from the Azores, Mainland Portugal, and the Balearic Islands. Over the four-day event, the aim is to create a sharing space where farmers, beekeepers, researchers, technicians, companies and the community in general can work together on innovation and sustainability, promoting the products from Santa Maria and the Azores. The event showcases a programme that combines technical, scientific, cultural and gastronomic activities. Moreover, there will be technical sessions, agricultural competitions, presentations of local products, show cooking and food tastings, highlighting some of the island's most emblematic products. The venue will also feature food stalls, cultural entertainment, musical performances, and activities for families and children.