J Marcelino Kongo
Instituto de Inovacao Tecnologica dos A�§ores â�� INOVA, Portugal
Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Adv Dairy Res
Sustainable growth and food security are the world biggest challenges, as the population is now over 7 billion people. Small enterprise producing traditional foods have a high social, economic and even ecological role as they usually are based on sustainable technology, their products are unique and thus competitive, and are the source of jobs and income for many rural families acting as true guardians of the land. Recall that 2014 was the UN IYFA aiming at promoting policies favoring the sustainability of family agriculture enterprises. Strategies that combine scientific research and technology directed to empowering small enterprises are thus important to maintain this sustainable economy. The Azores are a group of island in the Atlantic that have a fertile soil and a mild climate all year round being ideal for agriculture and dairy cattle. In fact the dairy industry �mainly smallholder dairy enterprises are the main source of income for the local economy. Constant adaptation has been a characteristic of the harsh life and history on the islands, where one makes the overcoming of difficulties a triumph of survival. In fact from a distant place of exile in the past, the island are now an oasis of nature in equilibrium where the dairy products evolved from mere products to abate hunger to highly appreciated cheeses with PDO status. This presentation aims at showing how in the last 20 years our research has been trying to contribute in helping this industry to strive and survive to socio-economic challenges, incorporating innovation and product development as well as environment friendly practices for its sustainability.
Email: mkongo@inovacores.pt
