The Madeira branch of the environmental association Quercus has warned of the Region's heavy dependence on imported food and its vulnerability in the event of a global food crisis. The association argues that climate change, international conflicts, and an anticipated decline in essential crop production could worsen food insecurity.
The association is calling for greater investment in regional agriculture, criticizing the Regional Government's lack of "genuine concern" for securing local agricultural production. Quercus advocates for "assertive and responsible policies" focused on the medium and long term, emphasizing the need to protect arable land from property development and golf courses.
Quercus specifically criticized the loss of agricultural land in Ponta do Pargo for a golf course and questioned similar plans for Faial and Porto Santo. The organization recalled food shortages during World War II, arguing that agricultural land and water should be preserved as strategic reserves.
