Salivitae – Salicornia Production Unit

The Salivitae project focused on regenerating land that had been abandoned due to high salinity levels in the municipality of Portimão, southern Portugal. The two young project promoters aimed to develop an intensive production unit (4 600 m2 of greenhouses) for growing certified organic Salicornia europaea, a plant that tolerates high salinity levels in soil. Salicornia is a plant that is internationally in great demand, due to its high nutritional value and pharmaceutical potential.

The project operated on a fully sustainable basis, including the use of renewable energy, utilising reused water, composting, minimising the use of plastics, and using 100% of the plant matter produced.

The project collaborated with public and private stakeholders, as well as with schools and regional and national research centres that have supported its development, while creating positive networking effects across all participating professions.

The project achieved the economically and socially sustainable regeneration of abandoned land back into production.