Carob, olives, almonds and figs are “strategic crops for the Algarve” and farmers in the region “can bet on them”. Giving clues on how to do it and promoting the meeting of producers with "the right people" was what motivated the Technical Conference «Algarve Traditional Fruit Trees – Tradition and Innovation», which ExpoAlgarve, in Loulé, hosted from October 30th to November 1st.
For three days, it was clear that there is enough technical and scientific knowledge in the region to make investing in these typical fruit trees in the region profitable. Even so, you have to be careful not to “invest blindly”. And this is where these journeys come in, as well as the seminar following which they were born, held in April, in Tavira.
“In these initiatives, several clues were given. Right from the start, at the seminar on April 30, where engineer João Costa (Drapalg) spoke a lot about the characteristics of these orchards and their installation. Yesterday [October 30th], engineer Florentino Valente (Drapalg) spoke about the costs of installing these orchards and their profitability. Those who attended these two moments will certainly have been much more enlightened about their future», illustrated Ana Arsénio, from In Loco, one of the nine regional entities that organized this event.
Creating these synergies between those who do and those who study was one of the main objectives of the journey. «We tried, here, that those who produce would know the right people, who can help them install and enhance their orchards», illustrated Ana Arsénio
The agronomist highlights the contribution made "by the University of the Algarve, the Escola Agrária de Viseu and the technicians of many entities who attended the conferences", which hosted workshops and seminars on the four cultures in focus – carob, almond, olive and fig – and on other topics, such as commercial and business.
Cultures are traditional, but this is far from meaning that the ideal way to produce them is with ancient techniques. Basically, it's about combining modern technology with the production of species that have been around for a long time, for the benefit of the farmers' stocks and the region's economy.
Producing with greater efficiency and “science” is a first step, and one of the most important, but not the only one that has to be taken when it comes to making an investment in agriculture profitable. Upstream there are other issues, namely the creation of networks, commercialization and even a marketing dimension, which is still little explored.
«We had a panel in which export and world platforms were very much explored. But there was also a communication about Algarve Mais, which ACRAL is trying to implement, which called the attention of those who came here to the existence of a project to enhance and sell their products», according to Ana Arsénio.
The Technical Conferences «Algarve Traditional Fruits – Tradition and Innovation» were organized by: Associação In Loco, Interprofessional Association for the Development of Production and Valorization of Alfarroba, Loulé City Council, Regional Directorate of Agriculture and Fisheries of the Algarve, University of Algarve – Higher Institute of Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology and CRIA, Professional School of Alte, Regional Development Commission of the Algarve, NERA – Business Association of the Algarve Region and ACRAL – Association of Commerce and Services of the Algarve Region.
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