World News for Students of English

25-07-2024 07:00

In Portugal, cork harvesting is a skilled tradition passed down through generations.

Every summer, workers like Carlos Feras peel the valuable bark from cork trees. It is a labor-intensive process that requires careful handling to avoid damaging the trees. The bark grows back slowly, allowing for harvesting only every nine years. Portugal is the largest producer globally, and cork farming is vital to the local economy. The material is in high demand for its environmental benefits. Antonio Jose Matos, who has been harvesting cork for 43 years, highlights the job’s challenges and rewards. Cork’s unique properties make it valuable for various uses, from wine stoppers to insulation and even aerospace applications.

Researchers, like Miguel No at the University of Aveiro, are exploring cork as a sustainable alternative to synthetic materials. Despite the booming business, the industry faces a shortage of workers, with fewer people joining the profession. The long growth cycle of cork trees shows the patience required in this eco-friendly industry.

Difficult words: labor-intensive (requiring a lot of work), vital (necessary), synthetic (not natural).

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