TERRA researcher publishes opinion article in Público on the future of agricultural policy
Gonçalo Rodrigues, researcher at LEAF – Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food – and at the TERRA Associate Laboratory, published an opinion article in the newspaper Público entitled “PEPAC: um de dois caminhos”, in which he offers a critical and constructive analysis of recent political decisions regarding the management of the Strategic Plan for the Common Agricultural Policy (PEPAC 2023–2027).
In the article, published on June 3, the researcher draws attention to the risks associated with the Ministry of Agriculture’s decision to significantly reduce support under rural development programs — a decision that, according to reports, will affect around 600 million euros, redirected toward environmental and climate-related measures. While acknowledging the need to rationalize resources, Gonçalo Rodrigues warns of the real threat of undermining the financing of already contracted investments, thereby jeopardizing beneficiary trust and the credibility of public policies.
The researcher, who also previously served as Secretary of State for Agriculture, outlines a scenario in which the agricultural sector is forced to choose between abandoning the hope of development or reaffirming its relevance through more competent and informed political action. Gonçalo Rodrigues argues that this is a decisive moment for the future of agriculture in Portugal and calls for responsibility and strategic vision from the incoming government.
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