Portugal Agriculture Minister advocates for non-arable land for renewable energy

Portuguese Agriculture Minister José Manuel Fernandes has advocated for the strategic selection of land for wind and solar energy projects, emphasizing that areas unsuitable for farming should be prioritized. Speaking in Vimioso, Fernandes stated that a reconciliation of interests is necessary to ensure that renewable energy production does not compromise food security.

He noted that some projects could potentially allow for dual use, such as solar panels that are not placed directly on the ground. The Minister highlighted that these projects are currently undergoing public consultation, and he urged civic platforms and public entities to participate to safeguard public interests, which he defined as a balance between food security, energy security, and territorial cohesion.

This stance follows warnings from the civic platform Plataforma Nordeste Vivo (PNV), which has expressed concern regarding the proliferation of large-scale renewable energy projects in the Mirandês Plateau and Douro Superior regions. The PNV has warned that such developments could lead to the irreversible destruction of agricultural soil, increased desertification, and a loss of food sovereignty. The group has called for a temporary suspension of new project approvals in the region until transparent environmental and socio-economic impact studies are completed.