CONTEXTUALIZATION 

The low carbon economy requires development of new technologies. Embrapa has a central role in the country's innovation system. It works with research, development, innovation and technology transfer in various production chains, generating not only economic benefits but also of social and environmental nature. Its scientific production occupies a prominent place among the research institutions in the country and the results of these researches often contribute to the formulation and improvement of public policies.

THE PROJECT

The Amazon Integrated Project aims to support the implementation of projects of decentralized units of Embrapa, selected through an internal projects call to be held under a Technical Cooperation Agreement signed between BNDES, Embrapa and Fundação Eliseu Alves.

The research and technology transfer projects to be selected and supported under this internal projects call must fall within the following topics:

1. Monitoring of deforestation and forest degradation and ecosystem services;
   
   
2. Restoration, forest management and extractivism;
   
   
3. Sustainable technologies for the Amazon; and
   
   
4. Aquaculture and fishing.

The Amazon Fund will also support activities related to the governance of the project, such as workshops on planning, management research network, monitoring of supported individual projects and cooperation with partner institutions; development of Embrapa's own information system aiming to improve the monitoring of indicators of supported projects; among others.

INTERVENTION LOGIC

The project falls within the "Scientific and Technological" component of the Amazon Fund's Logical Framework.

ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED

Nineteen technology transfer and research projects were selected through the “Internal Call 01/2017 Embrapa/BNDES,” aligned with scientific and strategic merit criteria and COFA guidelines, to disseminate knowledge and technologies focused on recovery, conservation, sustainable use, and family production in traditional communities of the Amazon biome, with total support of up to R$ 29,991,190.85.

The selected projects were grouped into four categories, as follows:

• Category 1: Monitoring deforestation, forest degradation, and ecosystem services – 4 projects;
• Category 2: Restoration, Forest Management, and Extractivism – 3 projects;
• Category 3: Sustainable Technologies for the Amazon – 6 projects; and
• Category 4: Fishing and Aquaculture – 6 projects.

The actions executed within these projects, related to community forest management and extractivism, were implemented in more than 20 priority municipalities of the PPCDAm and approximately 30 municipalities in the Territories of Citizenship. Some were supported by digital systems and geotechnologies developed by Embrapa units, enabling swift information exchange to support remote analysis and monitoring.

Numerous technical visits and meetings were held, along with technical participation in equipment acquisition and installation processes, training and awareness events, work meetings, nursery setup, data collection and systematization, community discussions, or questionnaire application, studies, article and thesis writing, participation in conferences, requests to public agencies, and the creation of communication products.

Key highlights include:

• Expansion of Embrapa’s mini libraries to the Amazon biome, an initiative aimed at disseminating technological information to schools and remote communities nationwide;
• Development of the Agrotag-VEG16 app module to support actions of the INOVAFLORA Project in gathering and sharing technical information from CAR/SFB and successful experiences in restoring altered areas, offering a database that will allow local technicians to assist small rural producers in regularizing their environmental liabilities;
• Improvement and adaptation of honey dehumidification technology for native bees, in partnership with the Peabiru Institute, which enabled the production of the first legalized native bee honey in Brazil, through the acquisition of the Federal Inspection Service (SIF) seal, with the participation of traditional community producers authorized by the National Wildlife Management System (Sisfauna);
• Initiation of the dissemination of technologies and alternative native species to produce aquatic organisms in small tanks, with shorter production cycles, which can contribute to the economic and environmental sustainability of fish farming enterprises in small rural or peri-urban family farms.

Key numbers:

• 108 technological reference units for the transfer of sustainable technologies were installed;
• 106 pedagogical and informative publications on research, development, and innovation (R&D&I) or communication results;
• 10 scientific publications (theses and articles);
• 93 new products or technological processes developed for the territories of the biome: 85 linked to technology transfer actions and 8 linked to R&D actions;
• 28 research and technology transfer networks were strengthened, leading to the reformulation of public policies for local territorial development and promoting the expansion of rural extension and technical assistance in Amazonian areas;
• 314 events (seminars or forums) were held with the participation of 7,700 people;
• 275 people were trained in management or technical skills for developing sustainable forest and biodiversity use activities, effectively applying the acquired knowledge;
• 402 people were trained in management or technical skills for monitoring deforestation, forest degradation, and ecosystem services in the Amazon, effectively applying the acquired knowledge;
• 771 researchers and technicians, all Embrapa employees, were involved in R&D&I activities in the region.