Lagos hosts traditional seed gathering marking a century of Tavira's agricultural research centre

The Association for the Protection and Promotion of Rural Heritage (A3PR) is holding the second Traditional Seeds Meeting at Lagos's Mercado de Levante from 10am on 15 November. It marks 100 years of the Tavira Agricultural Experimentation Centre, whose biodiversity bank, run by the regional development commission (CCDR), keeps about a thousand mostly old, native Algarve fruit-tree varieties. Farmers, technicians and specialists will share practical and scientific knowledge. The morning covers the centre's collections; the afternoon turns to producing, multiplying and conserving seeds, with speakers from Braga's plant germplasm bank, Andalusian and Portuguese seed associations, and local farmers. Lagos council and the São Gonçalo parish support the event, and all panels include open debate.