Avocado production project in Portugal faces rejection

Lisbon: The Alentejo Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR) has not approved the revised proposal for an avocado pear production initiative in the Alcácer do Sal area, within the Setúbal district.

This decision was based on the Environmental Impact Statement (DIA) which evaluated the project’s revised aspects and its proposed location. The CCDR’s assessment highlighted considerable adverse effects on nature conservation, ecological systems, and water resources, deeming these impacts as largely irreversible and uncompensable, particularly concerning habitats within the Comporta-Galé Special Conservation Zone.

The project’s implications for water and groundwater, especially when considering the cumulative effects with other intensive agricultural activities in the region, were also a significant concern. This concern is amplified by the potential long-term effects on the Alcácer do Sal region, raising questions about its compatibility with climate change adaptation strategies. The CCDR also pointed out the project’s conflict with land use planning objectives, specifically the loss of dominant forestry use as outlined in the Municipal Development Plan.

Furthermore, the project’s location within the Comporta-Galé and Sado Estuary Special Areas of Conservation, and partially within the Murta Reservoir Special Protection Zone, was another factor contributing to its rejection. Operational viability issues, including the inability to utilize the surface water collection component, were also noted. The initial proposal from Expoente Frugal Lda, a company within the Aquaterra group, sought to establish an avocado and forestry production area covering over 2,000 hectares. Despite revisions, including a reduction in the plantation area and changes to infrastructure, the project did not secure approval.

The public consultation period for the revised project garnered 1,188 submissions, with a majority expressing dissent. The company behind the project has yet to respond to the CCDR’s decision.