School groups from the four municipalities of Baixo Sabor in the northeast of Trás os Montes will present in the next academic year a menu based on organically produced products from the Lagos de Sabor bioregion, as announced this Monday.
“In the next academic year, we are going to introduce a menu based on organically produced agricultural products from the Lagos do Sabor bioregion and promote bio-canteens in this territory. This task has already been thrown to agricultural and livestock producers in this territory,” he said. Eduardo Tavares, president of the Baixo Sabor Association of Municipalities (AMBS), told Lusa.
The Bioregion of Lagos do Sabor covers four municipalities belonging to the Association of Municipalities of Baixo Sabor (AMBS): Alphandega da Fe, Mogadoro, Macedo de Cavaleiros and Torre de Montcorvo, in the region of Bragança, with an area of seven thousand hectares . organic farming.
“The first step is that at least once a week school canteens in this area can receive 100% organic products, which contributes to the popularization of this type of agriculture and, at the same time, a healthier diet for children and young people of school age,” emphasized Eduardo Tavares.
Horticultural products, fruits or meats of local breeds stand out from the food supply, and this region already has an Agricultural Useful Area (AAP) of 25% of its seven thousand hectares.
Lagos do Sabor received the bioregional certification in September 2022, covering more than 700 farmers and about 30 livestock farms.
“This is a way to improve the entire territory, based on the principles of sustainable management of local resources and environmental protection,” said the President of the Chamber, Alphandega da Fe.
According to the mayor, organic agricultural products will be purchased through direct agreements or open tenders open to producers in the four municipalities that make up AMBS.
Bioregions are made up of geographic areas where farmers, citizens, tour operators, associations and local governments form partnerships for the sustainable management of local resources, focusing on agroecology-based food production and consumption.
Portugal currently has the bioregions of Idanha a Nova, Alto Tamega, São Pedro do Sul, Left Bank of the Guadiana River and Lagos do Sabor.