Oeiras Experimenta: Climate-Smart Crops for Sustainable Food Production

Oeiras Experimenta is being implemented through a partnership between the Municipality of Oeiras and ITQB NOVA, as part of the Ciência + Cidadã Programme, in collaboration with local communities and non-profit organisations. By focusing on the study of novel alternative and underused crops such as grass pea, sorghum, millets, cereal hybrids, quinoa, and dryland rice — more resilient to drought than traditional varieties — the project aims to create a research agroecosystem while restoring the historic Quinta de Cima do Marquês de Pombal in Oeiras. This living laboratory brings together scientists, citizens, policymakers, and local associations, fostering collaboration beyond conventional research boundaries.