Action 6 - Awareness raising campaign in Portugal

Status: COMPLETED

According with the legal framework a whole range of administrative institutions was identified and meetings arranged with the OLEICO+ team. The template documents, prepared during the Sub-action 3.3, were translated and edited in Portuguese language. The brochures (700 copies) were printed and the DVDs (250 copies) were burned. According to the plan developed in action 6.1, LNEG organized 14 meetings in Portugal. The consultation involved the main sectorial stakeholders, representatives of national and regional administrations, local olive mill owner associations and other stakeholders concerned with olive mill wastes. DVDs were shown, explained and distributed among the participants. Participants informed the project about the current status of olive mill wastes management and its concerns. Besides, LNEG contacted Regional Agricultural Administrations, the CAP and Olive mill owners associations to capture the attention of the olive mill owners and organize local meetings. 5 meetings were arranged with a participation of about 130 olive mill owners. LNEG did also edit a manuscript published in the principal agriculture magazine of the country. LNEG advertised the message of the awareness raising campaign in different events. About 650 brochures were distributed 200 of which with the support of the Nature and Environment Protection Department of the National Guard (SEPNA). DVDs realised on the new eco-friendly technologies were distributed among the olive mill owners. Posters, articles, lectures were used to promote the campaign. Regarding the indicators, 2 plants were put in operation and 2 agreements for the application of the eco-friendly technologies were reached. A document with policy recommendations was prepared and it is in the process of institutional dissemination among administrative, industrial and technical stakeholders, namely the Representation of the European Commission in Portugal, the Ministry of Environment and Agriculture, the Ministry of Economy, Regional Agriculture and Environment Administrations and Hydrographic District Administrations of olive production regions, and the Parliament Commissions of Agriculture and Environment. The document is also being disseminated among the industry stakeholders through its main associations and Institutions of Research and Development involved in agro-industrial wastes valorisation.