Good Practice - Project
Dissemination of Technical and Market Knowledge in Mediterranean Agroforestry Systems
A project in Portugal that strengthened Mediterranean agroforestry by improving the dissemination of technical knowledge and market information.
General information
RDP Measure
- M20: Technical assistance
Beneficiary type
- Non-governmental organisation
Summary
The project, implemented in Portugal by UNAC – União da Floresta Mediterrânica, addressed two key gaps in Mediterranean agroforestry systems: limited dissemination of technical and scientific knowledge and the lack of reliable, up‑to‑date market information. Through technical workshops, fact sheets, market bulletins, a technical‑scientific focus group and an online forest‑product price platform, the project strengthened knowledge transfer, built stakeholder capacity and supported more informed rural development policies, contributing to the sustainability and competitiveness of Mediterranean agroforestry systems.
Results
- The project delivered a cycle of technical workshops, produced ten technical fact sheets and two market bulletins, and launched an online forest‑product price platform.
- These outputs improved access to practical management guidance, consolidated market information and up‑to‑date price data, strengthening knowledge transfer and supporting more informed decision‑making in Mediterranean agroforestry systems.
Promoter
UNAC – União da Floresta Mediterrânica
Funding
Total budget: 42 781.30 (EUR)
EAFRD: 33 797.22 (EUR)
National/Regional: 8 984.08 (EUR)
Context
The project Dissemination of Technical and Market Knowledge in Mediterranean Agroforestry Systems, promoted by UNAC – União da Floresta Mediterrânica, aimed to support forest owners and managers through advisory services, training and the dissemination of knowledge for sustainable forest and agroforestry management.
It was designed to address two structural gaps in Mediterranean agroforestry systems. The first was the lack of applied research reaching practitioners, largely due to the long growth cycles of Mediterranean species, which delay the availability and transfer of research results. The second gap concerned the absence of reliable, up‑to‑date and accessible market information. Without consolidated data on prices, trends and value chains, producers struggle to make informed decisions, plan investments, add value to their products and strengthen their market position.
By tackling both dimensions, technical knowledge and market information, the project created a strategic opportunity to improve knowledge transfer, support decision‑making and enhance the sustainability and competitiveness of Mediterranean agroforestry systems.
Objectives
The project aimed to transfer good practices and new technical and market knowledge, strengthening the capacity and quality of intervention of rural development actors. It also sought to foster active participation, cooperation and joint work among the various stakeholders involved in rural and agroforestry development.
Activities
The project was implemented by UNAC – União da Floresta Mediterrânica, as the beneficiary organisation, with the active participation of rural development actors including forest owners, agroforestry producers, technicians, advisors, researchers and sectoral organisations linked to Mediterranean agroforestry systems.
The project’s activities included:
- Technical, administrative and financial management of the project, including planning, implementation monitoring and liaison with partners and relevant entities.
- Creation of an online platform to collect, systematise and disseminate up‑to‑date information on forest product prices, improving transparency and access to market information for producers and rural development stakeholders.
- Organisation of a series of technical workshops to disseminate good practices and scientific‑technical knowledge, targeting forest owners, producers, technicians and advisors.
- Creation of a multidisciplinary focus group bringing together researchers, technical experts and sector representatives to support knowledge validation, content development and the technical coherence of project outputs.
- Production of technical fact sheets summarising key knowledge, good practices and management recommendations tailored to Mediterranean agroforestry systems, presented in a practical and accessible format.
- Preparation and dissemination of market bulletins on cork and pine nut value chains, providing updated information on prices, market trends and sector dynamics.
Main results
- The project generated a solid set of outputs in the dissemination of technical and market knowledge for Mediterranean agroforestry systems. A cycle of technical workshops was delivered to share results from Operational Groups and national and international scientific publications, ensuring structured knowledge transfer to rural development actors, technicians and producers.
- In terms of dissemination materials, ten technical fact sheets were produced in digital and printed formats, covering key aspects of Mediterranean agroforestry management. Two market bulletins were also developed, the Pine Nut Market Bulletin (2019–2023) and the Cork Market Bulletin (2019–2023), providing consolidated and up‑to‑date information on prices, trends and value chain dynamics.
- An online forest‑product price platform was additionally created, based on periodic production surveys carried out by UNAC, enabling regular access to updated market data.
- Overall, these outputs strengthened the availability of technical and market information, enhanced the capacity of rural development actors and supported more informed decision‑making in Mediterranean agroforestry systems.
Key lessons
- Project implementation highlighted the importance of designing technical and market knowledge‑dissemination actions that are tailored to the needs of rural development actors. A key lesson for transferring this example is the need to integrate different types of knowledge, research results, good management practices and market information, and to present them in clear, accessible and practice‑oriented formats.
- The involvement of diverse stakeholder profiles, including technicians, producers, researchers and sectoral organisations, proved essential for ensuring a variety of perspectives and the coherence of the content produced. The creation of a technical‑scientific focus group further strengthened the validation of materials and enhanced the project’s technical credibility.
- The project also demonstrated the value of combining face‑to‑face activities with written materials and digital tools, which broadened the reach of information and increased the effectiveness of knowledge‑transfer efforts.