The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and the Environment revealed today in Ponta Delgada that there has been a growth over 50% in the corn-growing areas since the beginning of the previous Community Support Framework and until 2015, which corresponds to an increase of almost 3,700 hectares.

"We grew from 7,300 hectares in 2007 to over 11,000 hectares in 2015," said Luís Neto Viveiros. The Regional Secretary spoke at the opening session of the 8th National Corn Colloquium considering that it "makes sense" to hold the meeting in the Azores, "where this crop is indeed relevant to farm income."

Luís Neto Viveiros, who chaired the meeting on behalf of the President of the Government, stressed that "the quality animal feed is naturally one of the variables that cannot be ignored" in the challenge of reducing costs and increasing quality.

In this context, the government official pointed out that "corn, as most relevant field crop in the Region" is a production factor critical to the success to the success of Azorean farms."

The Regional Secretary emphasised the importance of the organisation this colloquium, given the "relevance of the issues" and "the present situation of the agricultural sector, which currently faces special challenges it must overcome." According to him, "defending and supporting agriculture in each part of the national territory is to defend national production capacity and food self-sufficiency."

"It also contributes to the preservation and promotion of what is our multifaceted collective identity and, as such, the leverage of sustained and sustainable development," added the government official.

Luís Neto Viveiros stressed that "this is the firm position that guides the Regional Government's action, which still believes in the important contribution and catalytic role of agriculture in other activity sectors, including tourism, services and industries."

"We will continue to create all conditions, within the reach of our possibilities, so that regional agriculture may strengthen its competitiveness and its brand image; the latter being strongly linked quality and nature." Therefore, we will continue "to contribute to wealth generation in the Region and Mainland Portugal," said the Regional Secretary.

The 8th National Corn Colloquium, which has the support of the Government of the Azores, is promoted by ANPROMIS - National Association of Corn and Sorghum Producers in collaboration with São Miguel Agricultural Association.