The 18th edition of the Praia da Vitória Agricultural Forum takes place today with a revamped format, consolidating activities into a single day and moving most sessions directly onto working farms.

At a press conference held at City Hall, Mayor Vânia Ferreira said the change was unanimously agreed upon by the organizing entities to make the event “more engaging and more closely aligned with the daily reality of local farmers.”

“The Agricultural Forum has always been a unique space for sharing knowledge and practices,” Ferreira said. “But we felt the traditional model could be improved—making it more dynamic and, above all, bringing discussions into the very environments where agricultural work happens. The result is this new format, with talks held on farms and a closing session later in the day at the Fontinhas Parish Center.”

Also present at the press conference were representatives from key sector organizations, including José António Azevedo of the Terceira Island Agricultural Association (AAIT), Diego Aguiar of the Terceirense Young Farmers Association (AJAT), Bento Pereira of APLBio (the Terceira Organic Milk Producers Association), and Avelino Ormonde of BioAzórica. All emphasized the advantages of the new model, which is being piloted in the 2026 edition.

Ferreira added that this year’s forum aims to spark “debate and reflection on innovation in the sector,” focusing on making agriculture more attractive to younger generations and promoting new techniques and methods that enhance production and improve farmers’ incomes.

The program begins at 10:00 a.m. at the farm of Pedro Baldaia Bernardo, where João Fagundes will present on “The Impact of Animal Health on Farm Profitability.” Lunch, prepared by AAIT, will also be served at this location.

At 2:00 p.m., participants will move to the farm of Francisco Dias Leandro, where Daniel Dias will discuss “Technological Advances in Milking Systems.”

At 3:30 p.m., the session shifts to Sabores da Horta farm, where Vera Morais and Miguel Toste will lead a discussion on “Agricultural Diversification.”

The day concludes at 5:30 p.m. at the Fontinhas Parish Center with the presentation of the Terceira Island Bio-Region initiative. Closing remarks are scheduled for 6:00 p.m., featuring Mayor Vânia Ferreira and Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Food António Ventura.

The event will wrap up with a reception organized by BioAzórica.

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.