Quercus – Associação Nacional de Conservação da Natureza
Quercus is Portugal's largest independent environmental NGO, founded in 1985, dedicated to nature conservation and environmental defence nat…
Seed Saving & Exchange
Orchard of Flavours near Tavira and Herdade do Freixo do Meio help keep traditional plant varieties in use. Seed-exchange networks carry that work between growers.
Projects in this focus
Seed saving and exchange in Portugal
Portugal lost most of its regional varieties in two generations, and the ones that survived did so in back gardens rather than in gene banks. Saving seed here is partly conservation and partly the practical business of finding a tomato that copes with August in the Alentejo.
Orchard of Flavours keeps an accredited edible botanical garden near Tavira. Herdade do Freixo do Meio and Quinta Vale do Tourão maintain varieties in production. Al-Bio organises organic growers across the Algarve, and MGAP works on drought-resilient Mediterranean gardening from Olhão.
Exchanges are informal and mostly happen at markets and open days, so turning up matters more than writing. Related focuses: organic farming, local and seasonal produce and habitat restoration; seed swaps appear on our events calendar.