The Association of Forest Producers of the Alentejo Litoral (ANSUB) will lead a 30 thousand euro project for the creation of the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) of "Pinhão de Alcácer", seeking to strengthen the protection, differentiation and enhancement of a product with strong historical ties to the territory. The initiative is co-financed at approximately 85% by the Alentejo 2030 Program, through the Just Transition Fund.
"Pinhão de Alcácer do Sal" is already identified by the Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DGADR) as a traditional Portuguese product. Obtained from the seed of Pinus pinea L., the product is characterized by its ivory-white kernel and by characteristics related to traditional production and preparation methods.
The certification represents a long-standing ambition of the sector. In 2014, UNAC advanced with a request for Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), which was not approved by DGADR. In 2018, a master's thesis at the Instituto Superior de Agronomia was dedicated to preparing the specifications document for the registration request of "Pinhão de Alcácer do Sal PGI".
The connection of pine nuts to Alcácer do Sal dates back centuries, with the kernel once being designated as "white gold" due to its economic value. The territory has a significant presence of stone pine, with special expression in the Alentejo Litoral. ANSUB itself was founded in 1994 from the organization of forest producers of Alcácer do Sal, Grândola and Santiago do Cacém.
