AHSA announces strategic projects for Sudoeste Alentejano

The Association of Horticulturalists, Fruit Growers, and Floriculturists of Odemira and Aljezur (AHSA) has unveiled nine strategic projects designed to drive sustainable development in the Sudoeste Alentejano region. These initiatives focus on three primary pillars: social integration, environmental sustainability, and water and employment management.

Social projects include ACTTO, which aims to provide housing for temporary workers, and the WELCOME! initiative for ethical migrant integration. Environmental efforts feature the Sudoeste +Verde project for biodiversity and the Segunda Vida composting plan. Additionally, the “Sol p’ra todos” model will promote decentralized solar energy sharing to combat energy poverty.

To address employment and resources, AHSA introduced the Bolsa de Valores to coordinate seasonal labor and the Horizonte Sudoeste program to attract youth to agricultural technology. Water resilience is a key priority, specifically through the “Água que Une” project, which focuses on interconnecting the Alqueva system with the Santa Clara dam. An annual survey estimates the business volume of associated companies will reach approximately 500 million euros by 2026.