The creation of a Madeira Agricultural Reserve and the allocation of part of the tourist tax revenue to support agriculture, particularly the entry of young people into the sector, were among the proposals presented at a conference on the topic.
The conference 'Madeiran Agriculture – Between Terraces and Climate Change', promoted by the Order of Engineers, addressed the need to protect agricultural soils from urban and tourism pressure. The completion of a transitional process initiated in 2011 for the creation of this reserve, similar to those existing on the mainland and the Azores, was also advocated.
Climate change was another central point, with the identification of a trend of rising temperatures and reduced precipitation on the island. The need for crop adaptation and the reinforcement of the meteorological observation network were highlighted. Generational renewal in the agricultural sector was pointed out as a crucial challenge, making it essential for agriculture to be profitable to attract new practitioners.
Measures for efficient water resource management, such as sensors in networks and increased collection and storage capacity, were also suggested as responses to reduced precipitation.
