Integrated production of pastures, cork, and high value meat products – the Montado mixed system
In Portugal the MIXED project is implemented by ISA-UL, CONSULAI and a network of farmers practicing Mixed Farming and Agroforestry Systems, in particular the Montado, a UNESCO protected Mediterranean mixed system, comprising agroforestry activities and extensive livestock production. The Montado system is dominated by scattered oak trees (Q. suber, Q. ilex, Q. rotundifolia), associated with pastures, forages, or feed crops. The livestock (beef cattle, sheep, goats and/or pigs) is characterised by low stocking rates, adapted to the poor soils and unfavourable climate conditions.
Farmers joined the MIXED network in Portugal with a motivation of sharing experiences and improving their practices. Climate change and soil degradation, as well as poor crop management practices, have opened the floor to the decline of the Montado, due to low organic matter contents, soil erosion, and the proliferation of pests. A new paradigm is required to adapt to climate change, while ensuring the economic viability and environmental sustainability of the farms. The PT network aims at restoring and modernising the Montado ecosystem, by working in collaboration with farmers, researchers, policymakers and other stakeholders. The main objective is to find solutions for the future and develop more sustainable management practices, with the interests of stakeholders at all levels of the value chain.
The network integrates 15 farms, with over 20.000 hectares of farmland in the Alentejo region, south of Portugal. The aim is to share experiences and improve practices to be both efficient and resilient, increasing economic returns and providing eco-system services for the benefit of society and the environment. Read more: https://cutt.ly/IDUplhe
MIXED - Multi-actor and transdisciplinary development of efficient and resilient MIXED farming and agroforestry systems
Ongoing | 2020-2025
- Main funding source
- Horizon 2020 (EU Research and Innovation Programme)
- Geographical location
- Denmark
Project Keywords
- Aquaculture
- Arable crops
- Organic farming
- Agro-ecology
- Crop rotation/crop diversification/dual-purpose or mixed cropping
- Biodiversity and nature
- Climate change (incl. GHG reduction, adaptation and mitigation, and other air related issues)
- Competitiveness/new business models
- Farm diversification
- Forestry
- Landscape/land management
- Soil