They have already created two associations and want to help integrate the work group of the Competence Center for the Mediterranean Diet and to revitalize spaces at the Centro de Experimentação Agrária de Tavira (CEAT). The citizens' movement that was born in 2020 to defend the CEAT has not disappeared and has many projects up its sleeve.
These ideas are being proposed by two associations, created by citizens who joined the movement: Ecotopia Activa and Associação Al-Bio.
The two structures “have developed multiple initiatives linked to sustainability in the region. They have been actively engaged in contributing to improving the conditions of regenerative and agroecological agriculture and in defending the preservation of the Algarve's natural heritage», the associations reveal in a joint statement.
In addition to having presented «several proposals to the competent authorities», Ecotopia Activa and Al-Bio now want to «join the working group of the Competence Center for the Mediterranean Diet».
The associations also hope to be able to «recover and boost three spaces at CEAT, having already projects for various components to be integrated into the city's new Innovation Hub. One of the projects foresees the creation of a space for training in organic farming, the creation of an agricultural warehouse and the construction of a shared kitchen for the transformation of products allied to the Mediterranean Diet».
«We have already had the opportunity to present detailed proposals for the Warehouse, Shared Kitchen and Training Center of CEAT. The objective is to help develop organic farming in the region and contribute locally to the promotion and dissemination of the Mediterranean Diet», revealed Inês Mesquita, president of the Al-Bio Association.
“We believe that citizenship movements are crucial for local and regional development and we want to continue to be a participatory and constructive voice. During the pandemic, we promoted multiple initiatives widely valued by the community, namely the organization of debate forums, the initial implementation of community gardens in Tavira - which resulted in the SEMENTE project -, and the promotion of thematic study visits focused on the problems of sustainability», according to Ângela Rosa, president of the Ecotopia Activa Association.
“Agricultural tutorial videos and documentary series about the Posto Agrário were also made, in an unprecedented project that made known the memory of an emblematic space, currently under-used”.
Among the members of the two associations “are several producers of regional organic products, but also agronomists, researchers, engineers and university professors, among others”.
«The Mediterranean Diet is currently one of the most relevant contributions to environmental preservation and prevention of climate change, as well as a precursor of models of sustainable agriculture and healthy eating. (…) The small and medium producers of the Al-Bio association can contribute decisively so that products that make up the Mediterranean Diet are available in high biological quality and in a proximity regime», according to the associations, which recall that Tavira is preparing to receive another edition of the Mediterranean Diet Fair.
The two associations are also accepting new members and those interested can register here. or on the Facebook pages of Active Ecotopia and Al-Bio.
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