Contact us: info@dialogosdobosque.pt / +351 938 654 762 / WhatsApp
About us
Diálogos do Bosque is a Portuguese company, specialized and exclusively dedicated to the cactus pear / prickly pear cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica), with more than 12 years of experience, with nurseries capable of supplying cactus pads / cladodes for new projects of different types, at any time of the year, with its own orchards as well as several processing units, located in the Alentejo, which is one of the regions in Portugal with favorable conditions for the development of this generous cactus of the Opuntia genus from the Cactaceae family.
Since 2020, we have also been focused on developing various models and services with the aim of enabling the use of this cactus for the mass production of biomass, in order to be a sustainable, renewable, economical and environmentally friendly source for various purposes such as:
Production of biofuels, namely biogas and bioethanol, production of electricity, production of forage and animal feed/fodder, production of flour for human and/or animal nutrition, soil regeneration and combating desertification, firebreaks and natural hedges/fences, carbon credits, without forgetting the social aspects where these cactus can play a fundamental role in improving and solving some of the problems that unfortunately certain areas of our planet are currently facing. In this way, they can be fundamental to the survival of people and animals, making it possible to keep people in the place where they were born and grew up, thus avoiding the need to migrate to other areas and/or countries, as well as helping to create favorable conditions for other crops.
News
Cactus are strategically one of the best allies for dealing with the consequences of climate change, and are a fundamental tool that can be used in various ways to reverse the trend that we have seen and which has been worsening every year.
Cactus are undoubtedly a crop of the future given their numerous and valuable benefits in view of the main challenges we face today, while also serving as a source of water and food for people and animals.
Several FAO publications (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) have also advocated the use of cactus as one of the most viable solutions to meet the world's need for food as well as avoiding the need for massive displacement of people due to lack of minimal subsistence conditions.
Investing in cactus is investing not only in the present but also in the future and the results are evident just a few months after planting.
The cactus is an all-terrain resource with several “Swiss Army Knives” in its ‘luggage’.
Our environment
At Herdade dos Catos, the cactus pear / prickly pear cactus, organized and arranged in squares or hedges, calmly cohabit with cork oaks and stone pines.
Orchards and plant nurseries benefit from irrigation (drop by drop irrigation systems), extending across several plots fenced, in particular, against wild boars and rabbits. We therefore feel entitled to say that not only the landscape is blessed, but also the pre-existing species are certainly grateful for the organic fertilizer and additional irrigation we offer them, as well as for the permanent grassland covering the soils in the orchards. We feel good with ourselves, as we are on good terms with the surrounding environment.