On 29 October, the University of Évora (UÉVORA) and Jerónimo Martins Agri-Food (JMA) formalised the renewal of their partnership by signing a new collaboration protocol. The ceremony took place in Room 124 of the Colégio do Espírito Santo, at the Alentejo higher education institution.
The agreement aims to deepen the joint work within the scope of the Chair of Soil of the University of Évora, focusing on the valorization and study of soils as a strategic resource for the future of sustainable agriculture and for adaptation to climate change.
During the session, the Rector of UÉVORA, Hermínia Vasconcelos Vilar, highlighted the importance of connecting the university with the surrounding environment. “What is sought is to connect the University of Évora to the world around it”, he said, stressing that “there is no applied science without fundamental science” and that “in a context in which some favouring of applied research is anticipated, these partnerships gain scale and relevance”.
The academic official also referred to the institution’s role in scientific development in the agrarian and environmental areas. “The University of Évora has sought to assert itself as a reference institution in these areas, and this partnership is another step on that path”, he said, adding that “the Soil Chair is a clear example of how academia can contribute directly to the sustainability of territories and to support companies with a responsible vision of the future”.
In turn, António Serrano, director of Jerónimo Martins Agrialimentar, justified the reinforcement of collaboration with the group’s commitment to the territories. “It was a natural decision for the Group, which has always been concerned with being very connected to the territory,” he said.
The protocol now signed consolidates an institutional relationship that has been evolving, promoting applied research in favor of agricultural and environmental sustainability.
