Our Proteaceae area in the South is around 210 ha. In the North the cultivated areas are most of them small blocks spread but its impact in total area is small.
The composition is:
- 57% of Leucadendron
- 32% of Protea
- 10% of Leucospermum
- 1% other ProteaceaeYot50090
Planted cultivars are:
The main market is the Netherlands but China, directly or through the Netherlands, is starting to have some volume. The EUA is also having some importance, but the pandemic stopped some of these supplies. Now the process is starting to run but the less availability and higher costs of the flights is making the recovery difficult. The local market has a small role.
We don’t have a local association only related to Proteaceae, some of the companies are members of an association of cut flowers and pot plants growers.
Research is limited, but Flora United and Oceanis are doing small trials about varieties adaptation, phenology studies, product tests and field management to minimize the pesticides use and work about growing on stress conditions using lower amounts of water on irrigation. Especially in the South area of the country we are facing a severe drought at least in the last five or six years. The smaller availability of water is stopping the growth process of new areas.
Mário Oliveira
mariordoliveira@gmail.com
Photo credit: https://www.coloriginz.com/flora-united-portugal