AFINET News

Read these factsheets and learn about a broad range of topics, such as the valorization of residues from the olive oil value chain, crop diversification, mushroom cultivation and other innovative ideas and practices.

They cover topics as implementing different tree species, such as walnut trees or sweet chestnut trees in silvoarable or silvopastoral systems, or the benefits of silvopasture for domestic animals in terms of diet, shade, shelter or body maintenance.

Several issues were address over the meeting, such as cooperations of the nine regional agroforestry networks for creation of new innovations materials, the best ways of dissemination of these innovations, as well as further enrichment and maintenance of the AFINET Knowledge Cloud.

Mértola Municipality has recently started an initiative to implement a Local Food Network based on agroforestry and syntrophic practices.

Beja, in Alentejo, Portugal, welcomed the 36^th “Ovibeja”, a fair aimed at the promotion of agriculture related content, from the 24^th to the 28^th of April.

The event was held on the 17^th of April, in Grândola, Alentejo, Portugal, and it was attended by the President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.

Registration is open until August 2019.

Farmers and farmers' organisations, agroforesters, entrepreneurs, SMEs, start-ups, advisory services, universities, research technology organisations, rural networks, and anyone who may be involved in relevant projects or has experience with engaging in, designing and/or implementing crop rotation and/or crop diversification practices across Europe are invited to apply.

The presentations during the first part of the day showed how additional income can be gained from the cultivation of stinging nettle Urtica dioica, American gingseng Panax quinquefolium, mushrooms and hops Humulus lupulus. In the second part of the workshop, the participants could develop their ideas for creating new EIP-Agri Operational groups testing new innovations.

After several weeks of dissemination, 35 RAIN members attended the meeting, which took place on the 27^th of February, at Instituto Superior de Agronomia (ISA) in Lisbon.