The University of Évora and Jerónimo Martins Agro-Alimentar (JMA) have signed a cooperation protocol for the development of research activities and support for teaching.
With this agreement, a set of theoretical-practical, technical-scientific and research activities will be developed in the business areas of JMA and its three subsidiary companies, which operate in the areas of agriculture, aquaculture and dairy products.
Best Farmer, a JMA subsidiary dedicated to agriculture, will host interns from the University of Évora and provide access to its dairy farm, as well as the support of a tutor to guide students in Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science Engineering degrees. Research trials and projects will be developed in areas such as animal welfare, animal nutrition, genetic improvement, animal health, improvement of environmental indicators, milk quality and efficiency in water and energy use, agricultural production, soil use and improvement, and the restoration of cork oak forests.
Terra Alegre, a dairy factory belonging to the Jerónimo Martins Group in Portalegre, will develop research and development activities for new dairy products in conjunction with the University of Évora, and will also host Mechatronics Engineering students for internships in the area of industrial automation.
The University of Évora will also make available to Seaculture, which is dedicated to aquaculture, the use of spaces, equipment and materials from the Marine Science Laboratory (CIEMAR), located in Sines, to support the performance of pathological analyses of fish, also collaborating in the development of research activities related to aquaculture. These activities include improving the sustainability of endogenous resources, focusing on research into trophic ecology, behavior and conservation, to strengthen knowledge and the capacity to manage natural and artificial environments sustainably.
For its part, Seaculture will provide internships to students in the fields of Biology and make available the use of its authorized aquaculture production area in the Port of Sines for the development of trials and research projects in the area of aquaculture, water quality and improvement of environmental indicators.
