Integration of Migrants in Baixo Alentejo will be a prominent topic in the 40th edition of Ovibeja

Another edition of Ovibeja, one of the biggest events in Alentejo, will take place at the end of April.

The celebration of the 40th anniversary of this Fair, which runs from April 30th to May 5th, will feature more exhibitors and greater diversity this year than in previous years, with plurality as a major hallmark of the event which, in addition to a large range of cultural and recreational initiatives, includes exhibitors from the north to the south of Portugal and also from our neighbor Spain.

There will be an exhibition and sale of agri-food products, handicrafts, agricultural machinery and equipment and a wide range of services, as well as a large livestock exhibition, with around 400 animals, mainly indigenous breeds. The focus will also be on equestrian competitions, dog competitions, sheep competitions (Campaniça, Merina Branca and Merina Preta breeds) and Alentejana breed pigs.

Agricultural associations – which is at the genesis of Ovibeja – will be the central theme, reflected in several conferences, one of which will be organized on May 2nd by ACOS, the event’s organizing entity. The panel is made up of representatives from the different national agricultural confederations, CAP, CNA, Confagri and AJAP, as well as OVIPOR, a Spanish cooperative, partner of ACOS. The former minister of agriculture and sociologist, Luís Capoulas Santos, was invited to provide a framework on the topic. He has a deep understanding of this reality. Journalist Inês Patola will be moderating. On the table there will still be, as usual, many other topics for reflection and debate promoted by the entities participating in the event.

This edition of Ovibeja also takes up the initiative of the Guest Region, which this year will be the Municipality of Fundão.

Another of the themes highlighted in this year’s edition, within the scope of knowledge sharing, will be the conference organized by ACOS on Integration of migrants in Baixo Alentejo. In addition to other guests to reflect on this topic of great importance today, the participation of the representative of the Center for Migration of Fundão, Filipa Batista, the Head of Mission of IOM Portugal – International Organization for Migration, Vasco Malta and from an ACOS representative.

With regard to the food sector, one of the highlights of the event is the Pavilhão Sabor Alentejo, which appeals to all the senses, with a complete range of top quality agri-food products, from cheeses and sausages, wine, olive oil, bread, honey , sweets, chocolates. The event also features more than a dozen certified meat restaurants, several food and drink kiosks and several Street Food spaces.

Demonstrations of new technologies associated with Artificial Intelligence are planned for Campo da Feira, such as drone crews and other equipment, as well as talks on current topics.

Regarding the concert lineup and cultural entertainment, one of the several high points is the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the elevation of Cante Alentejano to Cultural and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. The event will bring together, on May 4th (Saturday), after lunch, all groups from Comboio do Cante, from the Greater Lisbon area, and all others from the region and other areas of the country who are available to participate. The idea is to celebrate singing in unison, as happened in 2015, which brought together more than two thousand singers from more than one hundred choral groups. On the various days of Ovibeja there is also music and entertainment in different areas of the event and the big night concerts: Calema, on the 30th of April, Buba Espinho, on the 1st of May, The Lucky Duckies, on the 2nd, UB40 on the 3rd of May and Ana Moura on May 4th.