What will agricultural activity and other actions associated with it be like in 10 years? This is the starting point to give perspective on what the country and the world will be like, as part of the “Return to the future 2035” panel, which will kick off the 1st AJAP – Portugal Winners Gala, scheduled for this Wednesday, November 5th, at Casino Estoril. Duarte Cordeiro, economist and partner at Shiftyfy, Rui Rio, economist and politician, Paulo Portas, journalist, politician and commentator are the invited speakers to mark the beginning of this initiative.
The event will also be marked by the presentation of the “Rural Innovation Challenges” project, a set of challenges aimed at future young farmers, future young rural entrepreneurs and the technical-professional and academic student community, taking into account the urgency of “rejuvenating what is disappearing”, explains Firmino Cordeiro, general director of the Association of Young Farmers of Portugal (AJAP). The objective of this challenge is to encourage agricultural and rural entrepreneurship in territories located outside large urban centers and, at the same time, publicize the potential of agriculture, livestock, forestry, agroindustry, as well as highlighting the dynamism of tourism, the environmental and cultural characteristics of these places in the interior of the country, and investing in the development of new technological, digital and Artificial Intelligence practices.
“Young people who want to innovate in new technologies, digitalization, Artificial Intelligence and want to find solutions inherent to more traditional activities through these tools, are welcome to these projects and initiatives”, reinforces the general director of AJAP.
No land from 2026
After the presentation, the first practical step of the “Rural Innovation Challenges” are the dissemination sessions open to the general population and young people, in particular. The start is scheduled for January 2026, extending throughout the first half of the year. The sessions are based on an “umbrella” concept, which will cover agricultural, rural and urban municipalities, and will cover different educational institutions, including Professional Schools of Agriculture and Rural Development, Hospitality and Tourism Schools, higher agricultural schools and universities. “A significant part of these actions – between 35 and 40% – will take place in peri-urban and urban regions, with the aim of disseminating information about these rural territories, often unknown to more urban citizens, particularly young people, as well as their investment potential and the support linked to these regions, available to those who want to settle and set up their business or company there”, highlights Firmino Cordeiro.
In addition to promoting the potential of these territories, the support measures available to the recipients of this challenge will be addressed. Presidents of municipalities and parish councils will have a leading role in this phase, explaining “the conditions they have to offer”, which may be combined with possible measures from the CIM (Intermunicipal Communities) and the CCDR (Regional Development Coordination Commissions).
Combat desertification
The scope of this challenge corresponds to a vast “range of attracting young people, because rural territories are a shame in terms of population”, declares the general director of AJAP, referring to the regional districts of Bragança, Guarda, Castelo Branco, Portalegre, Évora and Beja. According to Firmino Cordeiro, this reality is due to the high depopulation and aging in extensive rural areas and the simultaneous reduction of young people, as well as the lack of rejuvenation of agricultural and non-agricultural activities. AJAP data is alarming: Portugal is the second least rejuvenated European country in the agricultural sectors, where only 3.7% of farmers are under 40 years old. The average age of professionals is 65 years old, while in the European Union the average is 57 years old.
“We are witnessing the systematic abandonment of economic activities, a factor that compromises the economy of these territories and the social and cultural dynamism, characteristics of a society”, emphasizes Firmino Cordeiro, who also highlights the negative effects of climate change and forest and rural fires in a territory, in itself, abandoned, highlighting the “misfortune and discouragement of the extremely aged populations still resident”.
This reality reveals “a delicate scenario”, although, according to Firmino Cordeiro, the national agriculture figures are favorable in view of an evolution in the sector, even at a technological level. However, “we are talking about relatively well-defined areas of the country, which bring together a set of situations that are very favorable to the development of agriculture, such as the availability of water, the size of the property, the electrification of farms and a strong connection to research, technology and experimentation”, mostly carried out through INIAV (National Institute of Agricultural and Veterinary Research) and universities.
Promote merit and excellence
“We have to look at the country as a whole”, argues Firmino Cordeiro, who highlights some abilities of certain geographical areas: “Organized forest, with selected species, extensive livestock farming, such as sapling goats and native cattle breeds, wild fruits and mushrooms, and tourism, with nature sports, areas that can be associated in these territories.”
For the general director of AJAP, the focus must be on valuing agricultural holdings and retaining consumers willing to pay for the quality of products. “We are talking about products with Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), Protected Geographical Indication (PGI), Guaranteed Traditional Specialty (ETG), organic and certified products such as cheeses, sausages and wine. It is important to remember that Portugal has more than 140 certified agricultural products and foodstuffs, with the PDO, IGP and ETG regimes. rejuvenation, we run the risk of not maintaining this number of certified products, of losing even more population in these territories and cultural and gastronomic identity”, maintains Firmino Cordeiro.
In this context, the 1st AJAP – Portugal Winners Gala, associated with the “Rural Innovation Challenges” initiative, will highlight “the innovation, entrepreneurship, resilience and boldness of many young farmers and young rural entrepreneurs, who believed and believe in the potential of rural territories. We intend that the example of some of these young people can mobilize and encourage the beginning of the realization of the dream of others in many areas”, summarizes Firmino Cordeiro. The initiative, designed in partnership with CRSUR – Caja Rural del Sur and Agrimútuo – National Federation of Caixas de Crédito Agrícola Mútuo, has the main purpose of praising the merit and excellence of personalities, institutions and companies from each region, who stood out and contributed to society, rural territories and the country.
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