Regenerative Grains, Olive & Cork Farm Transition in the Alentejo

The Challenge

Monte Silveira had managed over 1000 hectares of traditional Alentejo montado under conventional practices for decades. Facing soil degradation, declining cork yields, and pressure to access premium international olive oil markets, the family sought a credible path to certification that would differentiate their products.

The Transition

ROA and consultants worked with Monte Silveira to map their existing land management practices against the ROC standard, identifying gaps in soil health monitoring, biodiversity corridors, and worker welfare documentation. The transition plan introduced rotational grazing with Iberian black pigs, intercropping between olive rows, and a full soil carbon baseline audit across 22 sample points.

ROC Certification

Monte Silveira achieved ROC Certified status — one of the first large-scale montado farms in Portugal to do so. The certification audit required documentation across all three ROC pillars: soil health, animal welfare, and farmer/worker fairness. Today Monte Silveria is one of the largest ROC farms in Europe

The Market Outcome

Transitioning 320 hectares to now over 1000 hectares of traditional Alentejo montado and organic grain field production to full ROC standards, targeting premium EU and North American olive oil markets with a significant price premium over conventional Portuguese olive oil.