Decree-Law No. 57/2021 establishing structure, organization and functioning of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAA).

This Decree-Law, consisting of 38 articles divided into five Chapters and one Annex, establishes the structure, organization and functioning of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAA). It establishes composition, duties and responsibilities of the above mentioned Ministry, entitled to: government department whose mission is: to design, coordinate, control, execute and evaluate the specific policies defined by the Government for the sectors of agriculture, forestry, livestock, agribusiness, food and nutrition security, environment and natural hazards, climate, water and sanitation; conceive, coordinate, control and evaluate public policies for the agrarian economy; design, coordinate, control and evaluate public policies for the environment and climate change. The MAA, namely in the sectors of agriculture, forestry, livestock, agribusiness, food and nutrition security, environment, climate, water and sanitation, is responsible for: defining, formulating and implementing policy guidelines on food and nutrition security, agriculture , of the environment, climate, water and sanitation in close collaboration with the collegiate bodies established exclusively for this purpose; promote and coordinate the sectoral planning process in its areas of action and ensure its implementation; propose, disseminate and ensure the effective application of legislative, regulatory and administrative measures relating to the sectors within its competence; ensure the articulation of public economic and social policies, aimed at promoting food and nutrition security; encourage applied research, innovation and technology transfer with the aim of structuring and developing agricultural value chains, protecting the environment and improving household income; promote and facilitate the development of organic agriculture and agro-ecological practices; participate in the formulation of agricultural credit policy and norms, the modalities and conditions of insurance for agro-forestry and agro-industry production, and the pricing policy; participate in the promotion of professional training in the areas of agriculture, forestry, livestock and agribusiness, stimulating young entrepreneurship through incentives and tax benefits; combat desertification through reforestation and management, by promoting methods and techniques suitable for the use of soils, by carrying out rural engineering works and by the protection and correct use of soils and forests; participate in the definition and implementation of policy measures that contribute to the optimization of marketing systems for production factors, agricultural and forestry products, etc.