A Herdade Vale da Rosa, a national producer of table grapes, achieved an effective reduction in the use of plastic for the production of its packaging in the last campaign, reaching around 80 tons. With the introduction of Zero Plastic packagingthe 2023 campaign marks another milestone in the Ferreira do Alentejo company’s commitment to actively contributing to the development of a more sustainable agricultural sector, aligned with concerns around environmental preservation and committed to reducing the ecological footprint of modern agriculture.
Result of a investment in the order of 500 thousand eurosthis new solution packing Free from fossil plastic allows significant savings without compromising the quality and flavor of Vale da Rosa grapes. With a renewed image, the new packaging is produced from 100% recyclable cardboard, with the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) seal, an international certification that promotes the responsible use of forests and the conservation of their natural resources.
In addition to the material used in the packaging, it is sealed with a transparent biodegradable film. Despite the similarity with the packing conventional, this solution represents an ecologically responsible alternative, allowing a reduction of approximately 80 tons of plastic per year.
During visits to Chile and Peru, reference countries in table grape production, Vale da Rosa technicians identified refrigeration specialists who have already visited the company’s facilities and are developing a project to improve conditions in the packing with the aim of improving the resistance and quality of grapes in a natural way, using the optimization of the cold chain.
Vale da Rosa is one of the few companies in Portugal with SPRING Certification – Certification and Efficient Use of Water Program, where it is monitored by capacitive probes that play a fundamental role in the Estate, together with the meteorological station that is responsible for management and monitoring. soil moisture, as well as field capacity – parameters that allow precise irrigation and greater efficiency to be achieved.
Equally assured will be the efficient technical management of soils, recognized by the ZERYA Certification, which certifies agricultural production without the presence of pesticide residues in the final product. Herdade Vale da Rosa also practices the technique cover crop, ensuring annually the choice of plants that will be sown between the rows, with the aim of improving the soil structure, reducing erosion, increasing organic matter and the soil’s water retention capacity. This technique, associated with the incorporation of manure, has allowed an increase in organic matter in the soil, which, in some cases, reaches a 1% increase.
Alongside the investment in innovation in terms of agricultural practices, Vale da Rosa is implementing an ambitious project in terms of renewable energy, with the installation of approximately 900 photovoltaic panels on the Estate, through which it expects to achieve the goal of energy neutrality by the end of this year.
