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Secretaria Regional da Agricultura e Alimentação
Regional Government with three European projects approved for agricultural innovation and sustainability
Regional Government with three European projects approved for agricultural innovation and sustainability
Secretaria Regional da Agricultura e Alimentação
Regional Government secures €15.8 million in EU funding for agroforestry circular economy project
Regional Government secures €15.8 million in EU funding for agroforestry circular economy project
Secretaria Regional da Agricultura e Alimentação
Regional Government invests over €230,000 in improving agricultural water supply on Terceira Island
Regional Government invests over €230,000 in improving agricultural water supply on Terceira Island
March 20, 2026
Regional Government with three European projects approved for agricultural innovation and sustainability
March 13, 2026
Regional Government secures €15.8 million in EU funding for agroforestry circular economy project
March 11, 2026
Regional Government invests over €230,000 in improving agricultural water supply on Terceira Island
News
Nota de Imprensa
March 20, 2026
Regional Government with three European projects approved for agricultural innovation and sustainability
The Azorean Government, through the Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Food, has seen three strategic innovation projects for regional agriculture approved by the European Parliament, focusing on crop diversification, the circular economy and animal welfare. For the Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Food, António Ventura, “today is an important day for the Azores.” He emphasised that the approval of these initiatives “demonstrates that Azorean agriculture is a vibrant and innovative force that is essential for the sustainable development of the archipelago.” The three projects, representing an overall investment of around €1.6 million, aim to prepare the sector for new food and environmental requirements: As part of the efforts to promote agricultural innovation, the "AZOREAN COCOA" project has been launched. With a budget of €108,000 and an expected lifespan of 24 months, this pilot study will assess the agricultural and economic viability of growing cocoa (Theobroma cacao) in the Region. With the establishment of experimental plots on São Miguel and Terceira, soils, microclimates and costs will be analysed with the aim of paving the way for a new value-added agricultural sector linked to artisanal chocolate and agritourism. In the area of sustainability and the circular economy, the second phase of the “Bio Filtering” project is moving forward, focusing on the processing and reuse of slaughterhouse waste. Representing an estimated investment of €359,000, the initiative will use natural solutions (such as aquatic plants and accelerated vermicomposting) to transform organic waste into high-quality agricultural compost. The project, which can be replicated across the nine islands, is expected to reduce unprocessed organic waste by up to 5,000 tonnes per year by 2027. The third initiative, “CALF FRIENDLY - Happy Calves,” is aimed at dairy farms on the islands of Terceira and São Miguel. This project has a budget of €1.13 million for the 2026–2028 period. The initiative promotes the suckling of calves for up to three months, a single daily milking and the use of biodiverse pastures. It also provides for the creation of Environmental Credits to offset producers and the awarding of the European “Calf Friendly” label. António Ventura noted that these projects represent a clear “European recognition of the diversification of food production” in the Azores, making a direct contribution “to carbon negativity, soil sustainability, zero waste and a circular economy.” The respective documents will now be submitted to the European Commission, where the technical and financial assessment phase will take place. The submission of these proposals to the European Parliament stemmed from the close institutional cooperation with the MEP for the Azores, Paulo do Nascimento Cabral. According to the Regional Secretary for Agriculture, “this proactive approach between the Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Food and MEP Paulo Nascimento Cabral has resulted in a direct benefit for the Azorean people.” It will ensure a path for the sector that is “consumer-focused, more resilient and diversified, and aligned with the environmental challenges of the 21st century.”
March 20, 2026
Regional Government with three European projects approved for agricultural innovation and sustainability
The Azorean Government, through the Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Food, has seen three strategic innovation projects for regional agriculture approved by the European Parliament, focusing on crop diversification, the circular economy and animal welfare. For the Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Food, António Ventura, “today is an important day for the Azores.” He emphasised that the approval of these initiatives “demonstrates that Azorean agriculture is a vibrant and innovative force that is essential for the sustainable development of the archipelago.” The three projects, representing an overall investment of around €1.6 million, aim to prepare the sector for new food and environmental requirements: As part of the efforts to promote agricultural innovation, the "AZOREAN COCOA" project has been launched. With a budget of €108,000 and an expected lifespan of 24 months, this pilot study will assess the agricultural and economic viability of growing cocoa (Theobroma cacao) in the Region. With the establishment of experimental plots on São Miguel and Terceira, soils, microclimates and costs will be analysed with the aim of paving the way for a new value-added agricultural sector linked to artisanal chocolate and agritourism. In the area of sustainability and the circular economy, the second phase of the “Bio Filtering” project is moving forward, focusing on the processing and reuse of slaughterhouse waste. Representing an estimated investment of €359,000, the initiative will use natural solutions (such as aquatic plants and accelerated vermicomposting) to transform organic waste into high-quality agricultural compost. The project, which can be replicated across the nine islands, is expected to reduce unprocessed organic waste by up to 5,000 tonnes per year by 2027. The third initiative, “CALF FRIENDLY - Happy Calves,” is aimed at dairy farms on the islands of Terceira and São Miguel. This project has a budget of €1.13 million for the 2026–2028 period. The initiative promotes the suckling of calves for up to three months, a single daily milking and the use of biodiverse pastures. It also provides for the creation of Environmental Credits to offset producers and the awarding of the European “Calf Friendly” label. António Ventura noted that these projects represent a clear “European recognition of the diversification of food production” in the Azores, making a direct contribution “to carbon negativity, soil sustainability, zero waste and a circular economy.” The respective documents will now be submitted to the European Commission, where the technical and financial assessment phase will take place. The submission of these proposals to the European Parliament stemmed from the close institutional cooperation with the MEP for the Azores, Paulo do Nascimento Cabral. According to the Regional Secretary for Agriculture, “this proactive approach between the Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Food and MEP Paulo Nascimento Cabral has resulted in a direct benefit for the Azorean people.” It will ensure a path for the sector that is “consumer-focused, more resilient and diversified, and aligned with the environmental challenges of the 21st century.”
Nota de Imprensa
March 13, 2026
Regional Government secures €15.8 million in EU funding for agroforestry circular economy project
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.”
March 13, 2026
Regional Government secures €15.8 million in EU funding for agroforestry circular economy project
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.”