About Us
Vision
To be a prosperous and abundant community, in harmony with nature’s cycles, that cares for itself and cooperates in a creative way in service of the ongoing agroecological transition through the concept of regeneration by use.
Mission
To foster the interaction between nature, agroecology, food, and local communities in semi-arid territories through demonstration, research, monitoring, cooperation, and education activities.
To promote the ethical, conscious, and regenerative use of resources in order to increase the prosperity, resilience, and well-being of all living beings and the Earth.
Values
Terra Sintrópica guides its actions by building a process guided by the following values:
- Courageous and Bold
- Collaborative and Open
- Resilient and Adaptable
- Just and Trustworthy
- Caring
team
Every day, a team of 14 people passionate about this territory dedicate themselves to creating positive futures for all living beings. Our diverse and complementary professional and personal paths reflect the ambition of the transition we are part of in Mértola and the Baixo Alentejo region.
Marta Cortegano
Board Member, Co-founder, Head of Strategy and Advocacy
Marta is a Forestry Engineer with a Master’s degree in Conservation and Management of Natural Resources and attended a PhD in Sustainability Sciences. She has over 20 years of experience leading large-scale participatory rural development projects in the Lower Alentejo region. As co-founder and board member of Terra Sintrópica, she leads the association’s strategy, project management, and political advocacy.
Nuno Roxo
Board Member, Co-Founder, Operations and Community Relations Manager
Originally from Mértola and a local guide, Nuno is the co-founder of Terra Sintrópica and co-manager of PREC. Recognized for his versatility and deep local knowledge, he bridges the gap between community involvement and the association’s operations.
Katharina Serafimova
Co-founder and Board Member
An entrepreneur and founder of several sustainability-related projects, Katharina co-founded the association and continues to play an active role in Terra Sintrópica’s territorial strategy.
CARES team
António Coelho
Co-founder and Cares Co-coordinator
António is a farmer specialized in organic farming, syntropy, and regenerative practices, with over 20 years of experience in the region. He co-founded Terra Sintrópica and coordinates CARES’ operations at Horta da Malhadinha.
Jorge Teixeira
CARES Collaborator
With a degree in Agronomy and two decades of agricultural experience in Baixo Alentejo, Jorge brings technical knowledge to the regenerative practices of the CARES team and accompanies the volunteer team in Malhadinha.
Diogo Mattos
Forest Gardens Coordinator and CARES collaborator
A biologist, professor, and farmer with over 13 years of experience, Diogo specializes in successional agroforestry systems. He recently joined Terra Sintrópica and the CARES team, where he leads the Forest Gardens project in five municipal schools.
António Aires
Infrastructure Manager
A long-time resident of Mértola, a dedicated and highly talented professional, António is responsible for the development and maintenance of the Horta da Malhadinha infrastructure, ensuring the smooth operation of the CARES space.
PREC Team
Antonieta Mata
Coordinator Chef
After 15 years leading restaurant kitchens across the country, Antonieta brings to PREC a rich and diverse professional experience, combining culinary creativity with regenerative principles.
Rosa Roxo
Host and Space Manager
Originally from Mértola and with a multifaceted professional background, Rosa is the host and manager of the PREC space, where she oversees the ongoing remodeling and development of the project, also ensuring an essential point of contact between the association and the community.
Gonçalo Falcão Rodrigues
Anfitrião e Gestor de Espaço
Originally from Lisbon, Gonçalo has a background in public relations and communications, areas where he developed his ability to connect with people and projects. Passionate about nature, sustainability, and agriculture, he seeks to apply this passion to initiatives with a positive impact.
Project Team
Inês Afonso Ximenes
Responsável de Administração e Finanças
Licenciada em Línguas Aplicadas e com mais de uma década de experiência em administração e contabilidade, a Inês é responsável pela gestão administrativa, financeira e de recursos humanos.
Renato Costa
Responsável de Comunicação
A communications specialist with experience in the NGO sector, Renato coordinates communications for Terra Sintrópica.
Eva Moreno
Community Relations Manager
A biologist, researcher, and practitioner of regeneration, Eva fosters community involvement in the various projects of Terra Sintrópica.
Francisco Ramos
Project and Philanthropic Fundraising Coordinator
With a degree in Philosophy and Public Policy, and a master’s degree in Political Science, Francisco is responsible for the association’s liaison with the Iberian Network of Regenerative Territories, the coordination of strategic projects, and philanthropic fundraising.
Joana Apóstolo
Gestora de Projetos e Angariação de Fundos
Mestre em Relações Internacionais, a Joana dedica-se à captação de financiamento institucional e à coordenação de projetos para o impacto socioambiental, apoiando iniciativas regenerativas em articulação com parceiros locais e internacionais.
co-founders
Dayana Andrade
Co-Founder
Dayana, a journalist, author, and long-time syntropic farmer, was essential in the creation of Terra Sintrópica and, in particular, the pioneering Hortas-Floresta and CARES projects.
Felipe Pasini
Co-Founder
Author, farmer, and global disseminator of syntropic principles, Felipe co-founded Terra Sintrópica, supporting the establishment of CARES and other projects.
Raíza Rezende
Co-Founder
Raiza is a nutritionist, entrepreneur, and co-founder of several organizations linked to regeneration (RHEA and AgroSystemic). She co-founded Terra Sintrópica and continues to support the organization in strategic aspects and the promotion of events.