Regional Government marks European Organic Day
European Organic Day marked in Ponta Delgada
Azores Sustainable Land Use Management Platform with 2,280 requests for analysis and 1,760 documents issued
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.
September 23, 2024
Regional Government marks European Organic Day
The Regional Government, through the entities under the administration of the Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Food, marks European Organic Day, which is being celebrated today, September 23, with an exhibition of organic vegetables, fruit, honey and dairy products and a showcooking event with tastings of various delicacies prepared with organic products. This initiative will take place at Portas da Cidade in Ponta Delgada until 3 pm. It is aimed at the general public and anyone with an interest in learning more about this subject, seeing that the goal is to raise awareness of organic farming and its role in respecting nature, sustainability and animal welfare. In addition to this initiative, the Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Food recalled that the applications to support Organic Production Mode Certification are open until October 25, "a measure focused on mechanisms to enhance the quality of products using organic methods." António Ventura pointed out the "increase in both the number of organic producers and the total area under organic farming and conversion." "We currently have 216 organic producers on eight of the archipelago's nine islands and 5,764.973 hectares of organic farming production and in conversion, the highest number of hectares recorded since 2019. This proves the strong growth in organic farming production and consumers in the Azores," he emphasised. The Secretary for Agriculture also highlighted "the significant increase in public investment in this measure, which, according to the data available, has risen from around 154 thousand Euros in 2018 to more than one million euros in 2024." "We have increasingly become a Region that produces organic products and this is also evident in the strong participation registered in the training activities promoted by the Regional Directorate for Agriculture and Food. This means we are heading towards our goal of making the Region known for a more natural diet," says António Ventura. The European Organic Day is a joint initiative of the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission. It is marked on September 23 as it falls on the day of the autumn equinox when day and night are equal in length, making it the most appropriate day to symbolise the balance between agriculture and the environment, everything that organic production should be. The event seeks to encourage sustainable agriculture in which food is produced in harmony with nature, biodiversity and animal welfare.
September 18, 2024
European Organic Day marked in Ponta Delgada
European Organic Day will be celebrated on September 23 and the Regional Directorate for Agriculture, Veterinary and Food will be marking the date, through the Island Agrarian Development Services, to raise awareness of organic farming and its role in respecting nature, sustainability and animal welfare. This coming Monday, between 10:30 am and 3 pm, the date will be marked at the Portas da Cidade in Ponta Delgada with an exhibition of organic-grown vegetables, fruit, honey and dairy products and a showcooking event with tastings of various delicacies prepared with organic products. The event is targeted at the general public and anyone interested in learning more about this subject. This initiative is organised in partnership with Biokairós, Norte Crescente, BEL and Mel Atlântico, organisations that play an important role in organic farming.