Beatriz Jardim, president of the Madeira Region of the Order of Engineers, advocated for considering the creation of an agricultural reserve on the island. The aim is to protect productive territory and strengthen Madeira's response capacity to climate change, logistical crises, and supply constraints.
The proposal was made at the opening of the conference ‘Madeiran Agriculture: between terraces and climate change, how to redesign the territory for Madeira to continue bearing fruit?’. Jardim argued that agriculture should be viewed as a strategic sector for the Region's future, given its island and outermost region status, serving as a factor of autonomy and food security.
Productive territory faces growing challenges, including changes in precipitation patterns, soil instability, and increased pest incidence. These are compounded by island vulnerabilities, such as dependence on external supply chains and sensitivity to external crises. According to Jardim, redesigning the territory to continue producing requires consistent public policies, valuing agriculture, responsible land-use planning, and an agricultural reserve, alongside integrated water management and investment in innovation.
