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On the quieter fringes of Portuguese agriculture live species whose anonymity belies their high value. The humble yet precious cardoon (Cynara cardunculus) is one of them: robust, prolific, and essential to the biodiversity and cultural identity of our land.

The Value of the Cardoon in Agriculture and Biodiversity

While many see it only as a thorny presence in the fields, others recognise an invaluable ally for science, innovation, and ecological infrastructure. This recognition led Quinta da Alameda to sign a collaboration agreement with the Agrarian School at the Polytechnic Institute of Viseu (IPV). Its aim? To replant, safeguard, and study a cardoon field that might otherwise have been lost after 15 years of dedicated work within IPV.

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The Agreement Between Quinta da Alameda and IPV

Signed in February 2025, the agreement will provide welcome continuity for core projects in scientific research and technological development.

Under this agreement, thousands of cardoons will be used and maintained in initiatives that may benefit not only the wine sector but also many other fields linked to sustainability, the circular economy, and agricultural innovation.

IPV will lead the scientific research. For its part, Quinta da Alameda will provide human, material, and natural resources so this research on the cardoon can continue and deliver concrete results in the years ahead.

By granting students and researchers access to this experimental field, the agreement also ensures training, knowledge sharing, and a wider opening of Quinta da Alameda to applied research.

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Scientific Research, Sustainability, and Agricultural Innovation

This partnership represents a true symbiosis between a local business and a regional academic institution, and a synergistic process that brings together place, institutions, and people.

It goes beyond a simple technical agreement. It is a commitment to the Terras do Dão, to preserving its biodiversity, and to the search for solutions that are more practical, more natural, and more firmly rooted in the region’s challenges, resources, and knowledge.

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The Future of the Cardoon in the Terras do Dão

So often overlooked, the cardoon here gains prominence and dignity. True to its steadfast vision of innovation and environmental stewardship, Quinta da Alameda is determined to act as guardian of this living heritage. These investments today are a step towards a future that is more fertile, more resilient, and more in tune with the natural environment that sustains us.