Interviews

Maria Madalena Soares Venâncio is 19 and studying for a degree in Management.

"I was very undecided between agronomy and management, but I came to the conclusion that I could learn the former more easily at home, as agronomy runs in the family blood."

She has been growing olives since she came of age, an activity she began by designing an installation project as a Young Farmer. The project focuses on olive growing and animal production. "Before the project started, I was already accompanying my father in the field and it came about naturally, as a follow-up to what was already being developed," he says.

She began to accompany her father in the fields from a young age, mainly in animal production. He has a special affection for the Charneca olive grove, as it was the first one he saw harvested by retail, when the grove was still traditional. He then watched it modernize and accompanied this transformation.

He sees his future as undoubtedly linked to olive-growing, but he says that despite all the curiosity that the process of extraction, packaging and marketing arouses in him, olive production itself "is enough of a challenge". When asked what differentiates the Cooperative's olive oils from others, Madalena says it's "the dedication, not just of the producers, but of the Cooperative in general". The success of the oil is the result of the work of everyone involved. Not to mention the unique properties of our land."

Because the Cooperative is also a family project, she sees herself in the future as an active member, taking part in General Meetings and even joining the Governing Bodies. "We can't just take the financial side into account. The Cooperative is a project for all of us."

The daughter of a former president, she believes that "although it's a great responsibility, taking on a position on the Cooperative's Governing Bodies allows us to learn a lot and broaden our horizons, in other words, it's a very enriching experience."

He finishes with a proud smile: "At home we only use olive oil. My father won't let us use oil!"