Shanghai delegation explores Monte do Pasto as model for sustainable farming

A high-level delegation from the Shanghai Modern Agriculture Investment and Development Group recently visited Monte do Pasto, CESL Asia’s flagship agricultural project in Alentejo, Portugal.

The visit focused on observing advanced agricultural practices, including low-carbon livestock farming and high-efficiency irrigation systems used for olive and almond cultivation.

According to a statement released by CESL Asia, the visit marks a potential step toward future cooperation, with discussions centered on a large-scale agricultural technology project spanning 400 square kilometers northeast of Pudong, Shanghai.

The envisioned project would integrate sustainable and high-quality production methods modeled on Monte do Pasto’s success.
Over the past six years, CESL Asia has tripled the value of Monte do Pasto’s land through innovative and environmentally conscious agricultural methods.
These include efficient water use, carbon footprint reduction, and the application of artificial intelligence (AI) to imagery collected by drones.

According to the firm, the Shanghai delegation expressed strong interest in applying similar approaches in China, aiming to enhance food security, sustainability, and profitability amid rapid changes in the nation’s agricultural sector.

In parallel, CESL Asia announced plans to establish a 100 to 200 million-euro agricultural investment fund via the Macau Platform.

The fund will focus on high-tech agriculture, including AI-processed satellite and drone imaging, AgroPV (combined agricultural and solar energy land use), and high-efficiency irrigation systems.

“Portugal offers exceptional opportunities for sustainable and profitable agricultural investment,” said CESL Asia CEO António Trindade. “With this fund, we aim to support our partners in developing innovative, low-carbon solutions.” Staff Reporter