Madeira conducted around 280,000 laboratory analyses on 549 samples between 2025 and 2026, as part of the international ALSEMAC project. The initiative focused on food safety, monitoring for pesticides, antibiotic residues, mycotoxins, heavy metals, and other contaminants.
The work, managed by the Regional Directorate of Agriculture, aimed to ensure food quality and consumer confidence. Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Fisheries, Nuno Maciel, emphasized the importance of this "often unseen" control, vital for public health.
The ALSEMAC project, involving partners from various regions, also addressed agricultural sustainability, waste valorization, and climate change adaptation. In Madeira, the Integrated Production Method was implemented in orchards, and biochar production from agricultural waste was explored to improve soil quality.
