The President of the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores (ALRAA), Luís Garcia, this morning defended the importance of “attracting and supporting young people who want to dedicate themselves to agriculture,” offering economic security, incentives to set up, support for training, and access to the latest technologies.

“It is a priority to convey this image to our young people. An idea of a modern, dignified, and essential profession,” said the President of the Legislative Assembly this morning at the session commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Agricultural Association of São Miguel, emphasizing the opportunities that the sector can offer to new generations.

Aware of the challenges facing the sector, from climate change and the volatility of global markets to the need to ensure the economic sustainability of farms, the President of the Azorean Parliament stressed that agriculture is “a strategic sector for the future of the region,” capable of “caring for the land, producing quality food, and helping to counter depopulation,” he argued.

At the same time, President Luís Garcia stressed that it is “essential” to continue promoting and valuing Azorean products, “recognized for their unparalleled quality,” ensuring that this appreciation reaches all sectors, calling for “joint work” between government officials, associations, and farmers.

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the São Miguel Agricultural Association, the President of the Legislative Assembly congratulated the institution on the “fundamental role” it has played in strengthening agriculture in the Azores, particularly in supporting farmers, promoting innovation, and defending the sector’s interests.

From Press Release

Below is the speech and the message given to the farmers, especially the young farmers, by Luís Garcia, President of the Azorean Parliament.

It is with great honor and pride that I participate in this session. Celebrating 50 years of the São Miguel Agricultural Association also means marking the successful journey that Azorean agriculture has taken during this period and that of so many Azorean families who, day after day, make this activity their life.

I am a direct witness to the revolution we have brought about in agriculture during this half-century.

Allow me, therefore, to share my experience with you. I was born, raised, and live in this environment. I am the son of a farmer and, from an early age, I learned the value of agricultural work. I recall, as a child, accompanying my father on his agrarian tasks: waking up early to go milking before school, being transported on horseback, feeling the cold of winter mornings, and warming my hands with the first jets of milk.

These are memories that I inevitably cherish, some of them hard ones that marked me and taught me early on the dignity and nobility of agricultural life. That was where I learned that agriculture is much more than just producing food.

It is discipline, it is resilience, it is caring for the land and animals, treating them by name, it is respect for nature, and, above all, it is the livelihood and hope of so many families. It is with immense pride and emotion that, today, I share these memories with many of those here.

And that is precisely why I could not miss this celebration, because today we are celebrating not only an economic sector of enormous importance to the Azores. Above all, we are celebrating and recognizing a way of life that shapes our collective identity, generates employment, structures the territory, and gives the Azores a projection that goes far beyond our nine islands.

We celebrate and honor working men and women, entire families, the true foundations of our economic and social development, food producers, and caretakers of our landscape. Over the past 50 years, the São Miguel Agricultural Association has been at the forefront of this reality. Since its founding, it has played a pivotal role in supporting farmers, promoting innovation, and advocating for the sector’s interests.

It is with this commitment and dedication that I cannot fail to highlight, in a special way, the role of the President, Jorge Rita, whose leadership has been decisive in consolidating the success and stability of the institution and the sector.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Of course, not everything has been done, nor will it ever be! To talk about agriculture is to constantly talk about challenges. We are living in a time of profound change, marked by the uncertainties of climate change, the demands of sustainability, changes in global markets, and the need to ensure the economic and social viability of agricultural holdings. But to talk about agriculture is also to talk about opportunities. Yes, opportunities, because those who think that agriculture is an activity of the past are mistaken. It is an activity that has excellent land, that cares for our territory, that is crucial in counteracting depopulation, and that produces food, and in our case, high-quality and sustainable food, can only have a bright future and provide a path for young people.

It is a priority to convey this image to our young people. An idea of a modern, dignified, and essential profession. Attracting and supporting those who want to embrace agriculture, offering economic security, incentives to set up, support for training, and access to the latest technologies.

At the same time, we must continue to promote and value our products, which are recognized for their unparalleled quality, ensuring that this appreciation reaches all sectors.

The path is one of work, hard work, as it always has been.

May this celebration also be a renewed commitment to continue working together. Government officials, associations, and farmers. In this way, we will be able to overcome challenges and achieve success.

I hope that this will be the case! Congratulations to the Agricultural Association of São Miguel for its 50 years of history and dedication.

September 5, 2025

Translated into English as a community outreach program by the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Department (MCLL), in collaboration with Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Media Alliance) at California State University, Fresno. PBBI thanks Luso Financial for sponsoring NOVIDADES.