The third portuguese participatory workshop of the BONEX project took place at Casa das Talhas, Adega Cooperativa Vidigueira, Cuba e Alvito, in Vidigueira, Portugal. The event was organized by CENSE (NOVA FCT) in collaboration with NBI.
To promote the widespread adoption of nature-based solutions (NbS) on farms in Alentejo, a comprehensive approach was developed to address multiple barriers. This approach was shaped through a participatory workshop with 32 local stakeholders (farmers, civil society representatives, associations, public administrators and the private sector), building on insights gathered from a previous collaborative session within the project. This workshop promoted the building with stakeholders on insights gathered from a previous collaborative session within the project.
The first part of the event featured presentations by CENSE (NOVA FCT) on the results of the participatory approach and by NBI on the intervention’s implementation, benefits, preliminary cost-efficiency analysis, and current progress. The second part of the workshop involved group exercises to identify complementary measures for the widespread implementation of NbS in Alentejo and develop an influence and interest matrix to assess key stakeholders’ roles in scaling up NbS across the region.
In order to facilitate the implementation of the intervention Alentejo region, complementary measures were identified to overcome the barriers identified in the second workshop categorized into 5 classes, that are all interlinked: funding and costs, knowledge and information, social resistance, cooperation and bureaucracy and inconsistent policies to implement NbS. Proposed solutions included financial incentives like Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES), improved rural extension programs, collaborative funding models, and reduced water prices for sustainable farmers. Stakeholders also emphasized the need for increased technical support, stronger cooperation across the value chain, consumer education, and policy streamlining to create a more enabling environment for NbS adoption.
By fostering cooperation and addressing key challenges, this workshop laid the groundwork for a more resilient and sustainable agricultural future in Alentejo. The insights gathered will contribute to the ongoing efforts of the BONEX project, ensuring that NbS can be effectively integrated into the region’s farming systems.
