All milk producers in São Jorge are certified in the area of animal welfare, António Aguiar, president of Uniqueijo (Union of Agricultural Dairy Cooperatives of São Jorge), told DI yesterday.

According to Aguiar, the decision was made about a year ago and has had a “major impact,” given that the situation is unique in Portugal. In total, there are 221 certified producers.

“Of course, animal welfare certification already exists on farms… But it’s one here, another there, another further away. In our case, it’s the whole sector, a whole region, in this case, a whole island. It’s all certified for animal welfare,” he summarized.

António Aguiar emphasized that this is currently a concern for consumers, but also for distributors. “Large retailers are increasingly attentive to issues of animal welfare, sustainability, and the environment. Therefore, it is also a request, almost an obligation that we, as food producers, must fulfill: to meet the demands of these large retailers who are asking us to move in this direction,” he explained.

On the 20th of this month, World Cheese Day, Uniqueijo will hold a ceremony to award animal welfare certification diplomas in the Finisterra auditorium, which will also feature a conference. Among other speakers, the regional secretary for Agriculture and Food and the president of the Azores Agricultural Federation will be in attendance.

António Aguiar pointed out that Uniqueijo has been investing in certifications for São Jorge Cheese, such as the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) seal or the Azores and Biosphere brands. The animal welfare seal will also be part of the packaging and promotion of the products.

The next project is ambitious. “We are already working on something with a big impact. We are making an effort, also with the Regional Government, to have the way the cheese is produced considered Intangible Heritage by UNESCO,“ said the head of Uniqueijo.

The market outlook is a concern for the cooperative union. ”Many dairy products from other countries are arriving in Europe, and European products are being somewhat closed off to other countries. It is no coincidence that, even today, we saw demonstrations by farmers in the news, mainly in France, which also have a lot to do with the Mercosur agreement, which could also strangle us a little here,” he laments.

In this scenario, he considered, certifications are another competitive factor for São Jorge Cheese.

In Diário Insular-José Lourenço, director.

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.