On August 28, at the Convent of São José in Lagoa, a seminar dedicated to the future of Algarve agriculture in the next decade was held, promoted by CCDR Algarve as part of FATACIL 2026 and the AMAR A TERRA program. The event featured the participation of the Minister of Agriculture and Sea, José Manuel Fernandes, and brought together about a hundred participants, including representative organizations of the agricultural sector, public administration officials and economic agents. At the opening, the mayor of Lagoa, Luís Encarnação, and the president of CCDR Algarve, José Apolinário, were also present.
Minister José Manuel Fernandes focused his intervention on the main challenges and opportunities for the agricultural sector and on the future of agricultural and rural development financing in the period 2028-2034. Water availability was identified as a decisive factor for investment and food security, with the government official defending an integrated approach to water resource management and classifying the "Água que Une" project as strategic and structural. José Manuel Fernandes also warned about the risks of excessive transfer of responsibility for agricultural financing to the national budgets of Member States, defending a strong Common Agricultural Policy with an effectively European dimension.
The seminar also addressed the need to attract new generations to agricultural activity, research and innovation oriented towards the concrete problems of farmers, and investment support in the region. Susana Barradas from the Planning Office also participated, speaking about post-2027 financing; Luís Souto Barreiros from IFAP, who analyzed fund execution; Macário Correia from AdP Aqua, who presented the "Água que Une" project; and Pedro Santos from Consulai, who focused his intervention on generational renewal. A round table with representatives from FEDAGRI, CONFAGRI, CAP, AJAP and AlgarOrange identified water, investment, access to financing and the conditions necessary for the continuity of agricultural activity as the main problems.
In closing, the vice-president of CCDR Algarve, Fernando Severino, highlighted the need for coordination between public entities, agricultural organizations and economic agents to respond to the transformations the sector faces, particularly in the areas of sustainability, competitiveness and adaptation to climate change. José Apolinário had already defended, during the opening, the creation of a regional chapter in the next financial framework and the attribution of competences in the area of water to regional agricultural services.
