Last week, I visited two regeneratively managed farms in the Alentejo region as part of our groundwork ahead of launching operations in Portugal. One spans 500 hectares in Cortiçadas de Lavre, run by Diogo Ribeiro da Cunha. The other, a 750-hectare property in Rio Frio, is managed by Pedro Brito de Sousa. Both provide useful benchmarks as we prepare to establish The Land Group’s first regenerative farmland portfolio in the country this year.
We aim to build a 5,000-hectare portfolio focused on long-term land ownership and pasture-based beef production. Our system integrates cow-calf operations with native agroforestry, primarily cork oak and stone pine. Including traditional systems such as montado, which combine ecological resilience with long-cycle forestry income, offers both environmental and economic value, and forms a central pillar of our land management strategy.
Our model relies on adaptive multi-paddock (AMP) grazing to improve pasture productivity, soil structure, biodiversity, and tree health. This approach suits the dry Mediterranean climate. By strengthening soil structure, AMP grazing increases water infiltration and retention, allowing pastures to remain productive during dry periods. As a result, forage quality increases, external input use declines, and the system becomes more resilient to climatic stress. These dynamics reinforce both operational stability and ecological performance.
We have already secured strong local agronomic talent. Gonçalo Pereira Miguel, our first hire, brings practical experience applying regenerative grazing on his family’s land. We are now focused on raising capital, sourcing investments, and completing the team ahead of our September launch.
This marks a decisive step as we look to expand our portfolio and scale regenerative agriculture in Portugal.
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Joaquín Labella, The Land Group co-founder
