The government, farmers, and the University of Aveiro have signed a protocol, extending until 2026, focused on protecting corn crops from the damage caused by wild boars.
In 2024, damages caused by wild boars to corn fields amounted to nine million euros, according to data from Anpromis.
The document, accessible to insiders, pledges to “enhance cooperation, particularly in research, experimentation, and innovation areas.”
The protocol, titled “Study of Methods for Protecting Agricultural Crops (corn) from the Impact of Wild Boars,” was signed by the Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forests (ICNF), University of Aveiro, National Association of Corn and Sorghum Producers (Anpromis), National Institute for Agricultural and Veterinary Research (INIAV), Directorate-General for Food and Veterinary Affairs (DGAV), Portuguese Farmers Confederation (CAP), and the Portuguese Association of Major Game Hunts (APMCM) during the Corn Cultivation Field Day held today in Coruche, district of Santarém.
The agreement outlines the groundwork for trials to assess the effectiveness of deterrence mechanisms against wild boars, such as sheep nets, electrified nets, and light or sound barriers, including combined devices.
Through this document, ICNF committed to fulfilling its obligations of information and cooperation, providing necessary information, and overseeing the work’s execution.
The University of Aveiro is tasked with allocating human and IT resources for the protocol’s execution and preparing and submitting initial, intermediate, and final reports to ICNF.
Anpromis, INIAV, DGAV, CAP, and APMCM will provide “necessary information, documents, and guidelines” for the protocol’s execution.
The protocol will be implemented over 16 months, from September 2025 to December 2026.
The first phase, from September to December 2025, will focus on studying and selecting exclusion mechanisms for wild boars and establishing the experimental methodology to be applied.
The second phase, between January and October 2026, will evaluate the efficacy of these mechanisms.
The final phase, from November to December 2026, targets dissemination, awareness, and training goals.
