On July 15, the NUTRI-CHECK NET teamed up with the Climate Farm Demo project for a full day of activities in Golegã, featuring three on-farm demonstration events.
The day began at Sociedade J. Henriques Luz, where discussions focused on soil conservation and regeneration. Producer José Henriques Luz shared several practices he has adopted, such as rotating potato and maize crops to optimise soil structure and fertility, while also reducing both economic and agronomic risks. He also highlighted the incorporation of organic matter, which improves soil vitality and contributes to carbon storage.
In collaboration with COTHN, initiatives to create refuges for biological pest control and promote biodiversity were also presented. Participants took part in a group activity, exchanging suggestions and experiences on practical measures that could help address the challenges discussed during the event.
The second stop was at Quinta da Labruja, home to Sociedade Agrícola São João de Brito. Producer Francisca Ramos shared her experience, explaining that her work focuses mainly on potato and walnut production. She emphasised her priority on plant health as a preventive measure against diseases, and described the use of grassing inter-rows to improve soil structure and reduce erosion.
With technical support from COTHN, Francisca has also implemented biodiversity-promoting measures such as installing pollinator shelters. COTHN technician Rafael Carvalho presented one of these shelters, explaining its design, the materials used, and its ecological role in supporting pollination and biological control.
In the afternoon, the third and final demonstration took place at Egocultum, a farm committed to innovation, sustainability, and climate change adaptation. Accompanied by producer José Azoia, participants learned about the farm’s focus on legume production, including chickpeas, beans, and grass peas and its approach to minimising soil disturbance, promoting natural fertility, and building resilience to climate variability.
The visit also included a demonstration of a legume grader in operation and an overview of technological tools used on the farm, such as drones for crop monitoring and management. José Azoia highlighted the growing role of technology as a key ally for improving efficiency and enabling informed, sustainable decision-making.
To conclude, a short Q&A session helped reinforce the day’s key messages. Initially, a symbolic gift from the farm was planned only for the quiz winner, but enthusiasm ran high, and all participants received 1 kg of chickpeas and 1 kg of grass peas produced on the farm.
The day was marked by knowledge exchange, practical demonstrations, and collaboration between farmers, technicians, and sector partners. These events reinforced the importance of sharing expertise and working together to build sustainable, resilient farming systems adapted to present and future challenges.
We thank all participants, producers, and organisations whose contributions made this initiative a success.
