Castro Marim has taken a leading role in a new twinning agreement with the French town of Alleins and the Spanish municipality of Tejeda, marking the start of a joint effort to promote territories linked by almond production and culture.
The three municipalities say the agreement aims to strengthen cooperation between Mediterranean and European regions where the almond tree plays a central cultural and economic role.
A key outcome of the partnership will be the creation of a European Almond Network, along with a proposed European Route of Almond Festivals, linking the participating towns and promoting their annual blossom celebrations at an international level.
The initiative is closely connected to the local almond blossom festivities, including the Algarve’s flagship Festival das Amendoeiras em Flor, which takes place in Alta Mora, and which will now serve as one of the main platforms for cross-border cultural exchange.
Under the agreement, the three municipalities will take part in each other’s annual blossom festivals and work together to promote cultural, rural, natural and intangible heritage linked to almond cultivation, according to a statement by the municipal council of Castro Marim.
The partnership also includes plans to encourage research into more resilient almond varieties, better adapted to drought, pests and climate change, as well as the development of new almond-based food products combining tradition and innovation.
Local authorities say environmental protection and landscape preservation will be central to the project, alongside educational exchanges designed to involve younger generations through school partnerships and mobility programmes.
The municipalities also intend to submit joint applications for European funding programmes, including a planned bid under the Creative Europe programme in May.
A shared brand identity and visual concept will be developed for the network, alongside a formal framework for initiatives joining the project.
The agreement was signed by Castro Marim mayor Filomena Sintra, Tejeda mayor Francisco Juan Perera Hernández, and Alleins mayor Philippe Grange.
