The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and the Environment meets Thursday with the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development in a first institutional meeting that will mainly address future opportunities and the challenges the sector faces, namely the milk sector.
 
Luís Neto Viveiros will reiterate to Capoulas Santos, who has an in-depth knowledge of the Azorean society, the importance of the active participation of the Region in the defence of the sector's interests in the European Union and the support provided by Portugal as Member State as well as in the revision process of POSEI at community level.
 
The Regional Secretary will also convey to the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development the expectations and conclusions of the 2nd Milk Forum, which met last week in Praia da Vitória.
 
At this meeting, the Government of the Azores, the Azores Agricultural Federation, ANIL and LactAçores signed a Declaration of Commitment that aims, among other things, "to develop a joint strategy in order to search for new markets" and "develop the necessary synergies to the development of new products."
 
The Azorean Government will defend with the National Government the amendment to the criteria for recognition of producers' organisations, considering the specificities of the Region.