Brazil and Portugal want to intensify trade relations and review cooperation initiatives in the agricultural sector

The Ministries of Agriculture of Brazil and Portugal should review their cooperation initiatives in the agricultural sector. The topic was debated on Monday (19/06) by the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock of Brazil, Carlos Fávaro, and the Minister of Agriculture and Food of Portugal, Maria do Céu Antunes. The idea is to update the points already established and include new items.

Minister Fávaro highlighted that it is President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's determination to strengthen international relations. “We have a mission to rescue commercial relations, so that we can open new opportunities for both Brazilians and Portuguese,” he said. He also highlighted that Mapa works hard to combat fraud and piracy of agricultural products, such as olive oil.

The Portuguese minister said that cooperation between countries in the area of ​​agriculture is essential to guarantee global food security. “We learned from the pandemic, from war and from climate change that food security is essential, and not only in relation to the quality of what we eat, but also about the availability of food for everyone”, said the minister.

Fávaro also highlighted the importance of providing European countries with information about sustainable agricultural production in Brazil. “We need to improve Brazil’s image in relation to this issue. The vast majority of our rural producers respect legislation and have good environmental practices. We will not be complacent with illegal deforestation and burning practices.”