On May 14, 2025, in Portugal, CONSULAI took an active part in the Fórum Batata, held at the School of Agriculture in Santarém with the attendance of more than 100 people. The project partner was represented by Dina Lopes, Director of Research and Innovation.
Throughout the day, three panels promoted discussion around different perspectives on the current state of potato cultivation in Portugal and Europe. Among the key takeaways were a significant reduction in land area dedicated to potato farming and growing concerns over the decreasing number of active substances approved by the European Union. In light of these challenges, technological innovation and effective communication across sectors, and with consumers were highlighted as crucial for building a more economically and environmentally sustainable agriculture.
It was in this context that CONSULAI presented the NUTRI-CHECK NET project. CONSULAI has been directly assessing the key challenges faced by the sector in Portugal and helping to evaluate tools and methodologies for near-future implementation. All findings and tools are being made available to farmers of all sizes, with the overarching goal of enabling more informed and sustainable decision-making, promoting cost reduction and enhanced food security across the board.
