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Secretaria Regional da Agricultura e Alimentação
Regional Government is investing over €190,000 in stepping up rodent control measures to protect farms
Regional Government is investing over €190,000 in stepping up rodent control measures to protect farms
Secretaria Regional da Agricultura e Alimentação
Regional Government strengthens Agricultural Monitoring Network to support farmers across all islands
Regional Government strengthens Agricultural Monitoring Network to support farmers across all islands
Secretaria Regional da Agricultura e Alimentação
3rd Santa Maria Agricultural Trade Fair Biennial begins Thursday
3rd Santa Maria Agricultural Trade Fair Biennial begins Thursday
March 31, 2026
Regional Government is investing over €190,000 in stepping up rodent control measures to protect farms
March 9, 2026
Regional Government strengthens Agricultural Monitoring Network to support farmers across all islands
September 9, 2025
3rd Santa Maria Agricultural Trade Fair Biennial begins Thursday
News
Nota de Imprensa
March 31, 2026
Regional Government is investing over €190,000 in stepping up rodent control measures to protect farms
The Government of the Azores, through the Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Food, is stepping up integrated rodent control measures across the archipelago, ensuring direct support to producers through the free provision of rodenticides, specialist training and ongoing technical advice. According to the Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Food, António Ventura, “protecting agriculture is about protecting the Azorean identity.” The government emphasised that controlling these pests “is not merely a technical measure; it is essential to safeguard farms, ensure the quality of produce and protect the daily efforts of farmers.” Managed by the Regional Directorate for Agriculture, Veterinary and Food (DRAVA), the current strategy involved the purchase of 42.1 tonnes of rodenticide, representing an overall investment of €191,619.86 (plus VAT). Approximately 21.1 tonnes are currently being distributed across all islands, continuing the first phase of deliveries (20.9 tonnes) that began in September 2025. The distribution of these products is carried out in a decentralised manner by the Agrarian Development Services – in some cases in partnership with local councils – to ensure maximum logistical efficiency. The quantity of product allocated to each producer is based on the declared agricultural areas, covering arable crops, fruit crops, horticultural crops and POSEI areas. From a scientific and technical standpoint, field operations make use of active substances such as brodifacoum and difethialone (second-generation anticoagulants). The effectiveness of these products is closely monitored by the Integrated Pest Management Committee – Rodents, which met on February 25, 2026, and confirmed that no resistance to these substances has been identified in the Region. Alongside material support, the Regional Secretariat has been investing in training human resources, promoting several training initiatives aimed at authorised operators and responsible technicians on the islands of São Miguel, Terceira, Faial and Flores. This effort is complemented by wide-ranging public awareness campaigns through the media (RTP Açores and Antena 1 Açores - television and radio stations), social media and the distribution of posters. “In an archipelago with such diverse circumstances, this strategy requires knowledge, coordination and a hands-on approach,” António Ventura stated, explaining the simultaneous focus on training, on-site monitoring and awareness raising. “Acting early and acting effectively makes all the difference. It is this shared commitment – between government departments, experts and farmers – that enables us to protect Azorean agriculture and ensure a more secure and sustainable future for all islands,” concluded the government official.
March 31, 2026
Regional Government is investing over €190,000 in stepping up rodent control measures to protect farms
The Government of the Azores, through the Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Food, is stepping up integrated rodent control measures across the archipelago, ensuring direct support to producers through the free provision of rodenticides, specialist training and ongoing technical advice. According to the Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Food, António Ventura, “protecting agriculture is about protecting the Azorean identity.” The government emphasised that controlling these pests “is not merely a technical measure; it is essential to safeguard farms, ensure the quality of produce and protect the daily efforts of farmers.” Managed by the Regional Directorate for Agriculture, Veterinary and Food (DRAVA), the current strategy involved the purchase of 42.1 tonnes of rodenticide, representing an overall investment of €191,619.86 (plus VAT). Approximately 21.1 tonnes are currently being distributed across all islands, continuing the first phase of deliveries (20.9 tonnes) that began in September 2025. The distribution of these products is carried out in a decentralised manner by the Agrarian Development Services – in some cases in partnership with local councils – to ensure maximum logistical efficiency. The quantity of product allocated to each producer is based on the declared agricultural areas, covering arable crops, fruit crops, horticultural crops and POSEI areas. From a scientific and technical standpoint, field operations make use of active substances such as brodifacoum and difethialone (second-generation anticoagulants). The effectiveness of these products is closely monitored by the Integrated Pest Management Committee – Rodents, which met on February 25, 2026, and confirmed that no resistance to these substances has been identified in the Region. Alongside material support, the Regional Secretariat has been investing in training human resources, promoting several training initiatives aimed at authorised operators and responsible technicians on the islands of São Miguel, Terceira, Faial and Flores. This effort is complemented by wide-ranging public awareness campaigns through the media (RTP Açores and Antena 1 Açores - television and radio stations), social media and the distribution of posters. “In an archipelago with such diverse circumstances, this strategy requires knowledge, coordination and a hands-on approach,” António Ventura stated, explaining the simultaneous focus on training, on-site monitoring and awareness raising. “Acting early and acting effectively makes all the difference. It is this shared commitment – between government departments, experts and farmers – that enables us to protect Azorean agriculture and ensure a more secure and sustainable future for all islands,” concluded the government official.
Nota de Imprensa
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/.
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/.