“Vale Pastor” will reward the best quality milk for PDO cheese production

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The “Vale Pastor +”, a measure that aims to reward producers of cheese that have milk of better quality for the production of cheese PDO, admitted 196 of a total of 228 applications.

According to data provided to the Lusa agency by InovCluster – Association of the Agro-Industrial Cluster of the Center, the “Vale Pastor +” award falls under the project “Program for the Enhancement of Cheese Production in the Center Region”, whose goal is to make a fundamental contribution to the economic enhancement of PDO cheeses.

This is a cash prize to be awarded to milk producers who comply with the specifications for the production of PDO cheese and who present the best quality milk.

The amount to be awarded is 2,500 euros per candidate accepted, at the end of the evaluation process, by the four intermunicipal communities with administrative responsibility in the territory where the business projects are installed.

The “Vale Pastor +” awards will be given to the accepted applicants that show the highest quality milk during the period December 2019 to May 2020.

This award is dependent on verification of the quality of the PDO milk produced and compliance with the PDO specification standards during the same period.

The Program for the Enhancement of the Centre Region Cheese Sector involves a total investment of 2.7 million euros, of which 2.3 million correspond to the Program for the Enhancement of the Centre Region Cheese Sector, 85% funded by Center 2020, and 428 thousand euros are related to the initiative Cheeses of the Centre Region Touristic and Gastronomic Route, 65% funded through Valorizar.

In total, the project involves a total of 14 entities in the Centre region, including four intermunicipal communities (Beira Baixa, Beiras e Serra da Estrela, Coimbra Region and Viseu Dão Lafões), five sector associations, two polytechnic institutes (Castelo Branco and Viseu) and the Beira Interior Plant Biotechnology Center.

09/02/2020

More than 190 milk producers admitted in the Vale Pastor + initiative

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The initiative aims to respond to the loss of impact and interest that the activity of milk production for the manufacture of cheese with PDO has been suffering in recent times.

Vale Pastor + is another innovative initiative included in the project “Program for the Enhancement of Cheese Production in the Central Region”, aimed at current and potential milk producers who supply or aim to supply cheese producers of Serra da Estrela, Beira Baixa and Rabaçal cheeses with PDO. 228 applications were submitted, 196 of which were approved, and the program aims to respond to the loss of impact and interest that the activity of milk production for the manufacture of cheese with PDO has been suffering in recent times not only among young producers, but also new investors.

The initiative will run until May 2020, with producers being subject to monthly checks on the quality of the PDO milk produced and compliance with the standards of the PDO specifications established. At the end of the evaluation process, the candidates with the highest milk quality during the period December 2019 to May 2020 will be awarded the Vale Pastor + prize, worth 2500 euros.

Through the allocation of this monetary prize, by the Intermunicipal Community, administratively responsible in the territory for the installation of the respective producer, the initiative aims not only to encourage existing producers to continue their commitment to this type of production but also to stimulate the creation of new businesses in this activity.

The award of the Vale Pastor + is part of the project “Program for the Enhancement of Cheese Production in the Central Region”, supported by CENTRO 2020, in which 14 entities participate, including the scientific and technological system, industry associations and intermunicipal communities, which propose to develop a wide range of actions to enhance and improve the competitiveness of the PDO cheese production in the Central Region.

Due to an information source failure, article Edited on January 7: “190 milk producers”, “current and potential milk producers who supply or aim to supply cheesemakers producing PDO Serra da Estrela, Beira Baixa and Rabaçal cheeses”, “milk production for the production of PDO cheese”.

Castelo Branco: Agricultural School starts with the 1st School of Shepherds in the Country

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September 23rd was marked by the formal start of the Shepherds’ School. Held at the Escola Superior Agrária de Castelo Branco, the Public Session of the Start-up of the Shepherds’ School, was attended by the President of the CCDRC, Ana Abrunhosa, the Mayor of Castelo Branco, Luís Correia, the President of InovCluster – Association of the Agro-Industrial Cluster of the Center, Cláudia Domingues Soares and the Presidents of the Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco and the Polytechnic Institute of Viseu, António Fernandes and João Luís Monney de Sá Paiva, respectively.

September 23rd was marked by the formal start of the Shepherds’ School. Held in the Agricultural Superior School of Castelo Branco, the Public Session of the Start-up of the Shepherds’ School, was attended by the President of the CCDRC, Ana Abrunhosa, the Mayor of Castelo Branco, Luís Correia, the President of InovCluster – Association of the Agroindustrial Cluster of the Center, Cláudia Domingues Soares and the Presidents of the Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco and the Polytechnic Institute of Viseu, António Fernandes and João Luís Monney de Sá Paiva, respectively.

According to information to which Diário Digital had access, this is an ambitious and pioneering project in Portugal, integrated in the “Program for the Enhancement of Cheese Production in the Center Region”, led by InovCluster, which has a total investment of 2.2 million euros and the participation of 14 partners. For Cláudia Domingues Soares this “is a pioneer project, innovative, that will work as a pilot project for others to follow.

The great challenge involves the articulation between the various players in the Central Region, but we believe that, based on cooperation and responding to a challenge coming from the sector itself, we are contributing to a more sustainable and more competitive territory,” adding that the cheese industry is an enormous asset “because of its genetic heritage; its historical heritage; its industrial heritage; and its natural heritage and landscape. Ana Abrunhosa highlights the importance of networking between institutions, stressing the need to “continue to invest in our traditional activities, to value and dignify those who are in these sectors, incorporating knowledge and technology.

The Shepherds’ School is coordinated by the Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco – IPCB – and the Polytechnic Institute of Viseu – IPV – that will teach the theoretical component of the course in the ESACB (School of Agriculture of Castelo Branco) and the ESAV (School of Agriculture of Viseu) facilities. With a duration of 4 months, the Shepherds’ School intends to contribute to the reinforcement and valorization of the shepherding activity and to promote the innovation and knowledge within the line of cheeses with PDO – Protected Designation of Origin – from the Center Region.

Luís Correia considers that “the fact that InovCluster is leading this project, based in Castelo Branco, reveals the assertive bet that the municipality has undertaken, positioning the existing agri-food ecosystem at a supra-municipal level”. With 34 students – 15 in Castelo Branco and 19 in Viseu – the practical teaching component will focus on farms located in the regions covered by the Center Region PDO cheeses. The students may also apply for the “Vale Pastor” and the “Vale Pastor Mais”. In the first case, a prize of 5000 euros will be awarded to students who successfully complete the course and then move on to a shepherding activity within nine months. The “Vale Pastor Mais” aims to stimulate and support shepherds, already installed in the activity, to ensure that the milk they produce follows the criteria defined for the production of cheese with PDO, awarding a prize of 2500 euros. The initiative covers the production of PDO cheeses from Serra da Estrela, Beira Baixa and Rabaçal.

The project “Valorização dos Queijos da Região Centro” is co-financed by the Centro 2020 program, Portugal 2020 and the European Union through FEDER.