Support for creating a cluster model for the cocoa chain in the southwestern region of Pará as the first step in promoting the world’s first Cocoa Corridor focused on production combined with forest preservation and restoration.

How it will be implemented:

Fostering and facilitating governance for interaction and cooperation between companies, players, producers and projects located within the territory for joint development of the business plan that promotes access to resources and specialized scaling competencies to enable production and technology capacity building, access to financing and supplies, and commercialization of what the participating companies produce.

Location:

Southwestern Pará

Scenario and Impacts:

This first action supported by the JBS Fund for the Amazon has a duration of 6 months and the intentions involve:

• In-depth studies in to developing the business plan for the Sustainable Cocoa Corridor;
• Supporting the definition of the legal entity and a breakdown of the operating process;
• Supporting the development and proof of concept of the Cocoa Corridor in the region, bearing in mind the protocols. Within 10 years the project intends to achieve 45,000 hectares of restored areas using agroforestry systems (SAFs) to provide for an increase in direct income of the order of 30% for the farmers through improved productivity; and to generate R$ 686 million in added value, including the creation of 60,000 jobs and the formalization of the chain, adding up to 90,000 tons to the domestic cocoa supply.

Institutions responsible:

Systemiq.

Financing of research projects to support the development of new products and/or ingredients from the biodiversity of the Amazon, which can be used in the plant-based food industry.

How it will be implemented:

Six studies will be financed with the aim of evaluating the potential for using native species of the Amazon Biome, like cupuaçu, guaraná, Brazil nuts, babaçu, and mushrooms, among others, for developing new ingredients and products suitable for use in the plant-based foods market. Priority will be given to studies that bring innovative, technological processes, involve local communities and use byproducts from already existing production chains.

Location:

Projects will be selected through a call notice open to all universities and research centers operating in the Amazon.

Scenario and Impacts:

• New domestic sources of ingredients, including colorings, aromas and flavorings, fibers, thickeners and resins to improve the nutritional and sensorial aspects of the products;
• Greater engagement from the scientific community in the Amazon;
• Greater participation of associations, cooperatives and agribusiness in the process as suppliers of potential ingredients to industry, bringing these institutions closer to the innovation process;
• Fostering the connection between researchers and the food industry.

Institutions responsible:

The Good Food Institute (GFI)

Boosting the bioeconomy on 16 areas of indigenous lands through cashew nut chains, and a seed and handicraft network by strengthening the indigenous well-being for 16 ethnic groups.

How it will be implemented:

The local sociobiodiversity chains will be boosted by encouraging women and young people to play a leading role in strengthening the governance on indigenous lands by structuring the gathering and storage of cashew nuts, organization of cooperatives, promotion of the handicraft chain and initiating a seed network in the region.

Location:

16 Indigenous Lands in the central-southern region of Rondônia and northwestern Mato Grosso.

Scenario and Impacts:

• Forest conservation on 4,5 million hectares;
• Achieving 100 economic initiatives of indigenous people;
• Around 650 families are set to benefit from an annual increase of 5% in their family incomes through the bioeconomy.
• An increase of around 20% in the production of the 3 chains (cashew nuts, handicrafts and forest seeds).

Institutions responsible:

Forest Trends, Greendata and Ecoporé

Development of a sustainable material (biocompound) from Amazon fibers to substitute polypropylene (PP) partially or wholly.

How it will be implemented:

Taking advantage of Amazon fibers such as sawdust and cashew nut shells to develop a biodegradable material to substitute partially or wholly the polypropylene manufactured in the Manaus Free Zone for producing plastic packaging and products, stimulating the circular economy and strengthening forest preservation.

Location:

Lábrea, Apuí and Manaus (AM).

Scenario and Impacts:

• Fostering the Circular Economy in the bioeconomy chains;
• Generation of income for extractivist communities;
• Support for forest preservation in of deforestation pressure;
• Promoting the Manaus Free Zone as a bioeconomy innovation hub;
• Reduction of carbon emissions;

Institutions responsible:

WTT, Idesam, Tutiplast and FUEA

Development of alternatives for extracting plant protein from Brazil nut and cupuaçu byproducts for applications in the food industry.

How it will be implemented:

The JBS Fund for the Amazon will support the first phase of the study involving the technical and economic feasibility study including proof of concept of the technology for extracting protein from cupuaçu and Brazil nut meal.

Location:

Nova Califórnia (RO).

Scenario and Impacts:

• Fostering the Circular Economy in the bioeconomy chains;
• Generation of income for extractivist communities;

Institutions responsible:

SENAI, Cooperativa RECA (Consortium and Densified Economic Reforestation) and Embrapii.

Support for the “Fair and Sustainable Fishing” project aimed at good processing practices and diversification of the ASPROC product range.

How it will be implemented:

Dissemination of science and technology techniques applied to social innovation, training of ASPROC technicians as multipliers of good practices in the processing and quality of the pirarucu, including rational water use, improving the quality of the ASPROC entrepôts and re-use of waste. Techniques will also be applied to making better use of and improving the quality of the fish, while encouraging the production of new coproducts on the market.

Location:

Carauari (AM)

Scenario and Impacts:

• Promotion of environmental sustainability in the fishing industry through the rational use of water and re-use of the waste from fish processing;
• Training of ASPROC handlers and associates;
• Adding value and generation of coproducts (leather, smoked products, cold cuts, salted and special cuts ) of pirarucu;
• Rendering possible the commercialization of pre-tanned pirarucu leather.

Institutions responsible:

Embrapa Fishing and Aquaculture, Embrapa Livestock Farming Southeast and Embrapa, Eastern Amazon, as well as ASPROC.

A study to understand the dynamic of carbon in different uses of land and different species by using leading-edge technology, producing results that will be able to contribute to monitoring greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation, while also recognizing the value of environmental assets and carbon credits, among other uses.

How it will be implemented:

Creation of an algorithm based on high-precision low-cost technological innovations and portability (NetFlora Dataset) and setting up permanent monitoring installations to provide feedback for modeling.

Location:

Amazon Biome.

Scenario and Impacts:

• Development of a cataloged image data bank for forest species of economic interest;
• Adjustment of algorithms for forest inventories of timber-producing and on-timber-producing species of the Amazon;
• Production dynamic estimate models, biomass inventories and high-resolution biomass maps for areas of strategic interest to support public policies on sustainable use (forest stewardship) and payment for environmental services (carbon stocks);
• Production of carbon emission factor, biomass and soil models in forest stewardship environments;
• Provision of high-precision, low-cost leading-edge technology (patents);

Institutions responsible:

Embrapa Acre.

Incentives for 1,500 smallholders, combining: a 30% increase in income, restoration of the forest and reduction in carbon emissions.

How it will be implemented:

Implementation of good farming practices via Technical Assistance, with direct intervention on 3,000 hectares, restoration of 1,500 hectares of degraded pastures with cocoa smallholdings (SAF), increase in livestock farming productivity and the promotion of four technical assistance businesses in local associations and cooperatives, providing training in good low-carbon farming practices.

Location:

Pará - Novo Repartimento, Pacajá, Anapu and Altamira

Scenario and Impacts:

The Transamazônica highway is the hub of 55% of the deforestation in Pará and 27% of the pastures have been degraded. Once the project is up and running, the expected results are:

• 53% reduction in GHG emissions on the properties engaged;
• 30% increase in the average gross income of the 1,500 beneficiary smallholders;
• Increase in the production and commercialization of cocoa, from 2 to 60 tons;
• Higher livestock farming productivity.

Institutions responsible:

Solidaridad (an organization with over 50 years in the development of sustainable farming chains).

Strengthening of the açai bioeconomy, forest conservation, promotion of health and education within the communities and an increase in local family incomes.

How it will be implemented:

Construction of a dedicated factory for producing açaí pulp, acquiring and maintaining socioenvironmental certifications to enable the expansion of the high value-added product portfolio. Completion of the construction of the Bailique family school and conclusion of the transition of management to those in charge of the Amazonbai.

Location:

Amapá – Macapá, the Bailique and Beira Amazonas districts

Scenario and Impacts:

With little knowledge on how to work with açaí, as well as on administrative management, local producers depend on intermediaries to access the market. Once the project is up and running, the expected results are:

• Conservation of 3,000 certified hectares of native açaí areas;
• 83% increase in the number of cooperative members and 30% in the participation of women;
• Financial and management autonomy for the Amazonbai and the 2 schools, using a ground-breaking finance model;

Institutions responsible:

Joint action involving Instituto InterElos, the Amazonbai, the State University of Amapá, the Luthier School Workshop of the Amazon, the International Institute of Education of Brazil e Instituto Terroá.

Biodiversity conservation, strengthening of the pirarucu chain and other species, increase in production and income for 450 families and improvements in family well-being.

How it will be implemented:

Acquisition of a certified vessel to strengthen the extractivist chain of pirarucu and other species, in addition to preparing a feasibility study for the pirarucu processing industry, benefiting 450 families through higher income and production.

Location:

Conservation Units (the Middle and Lower River Juruá Extractivist Reserves and the Uacari SDR), Indigenous Lands (Deni indigenous lands on the Xeruã River) and a Fishing Agreement area

Scenario and Impacts:

The region is deficient in terms of outflow structures in the pre-processing phase of fish production, and needs to obtain MAPA (Ministry of Agriculture) certifications in order to provide processed raw materials. Once the project is up and running, the expected results are:

• Biodiversity conservation on 3,000 hectares of protected areas;
• Increase in income of 450 families in the 55 communities involved;
• Increase in the volume of production;
• An increase in the annual sales by the Carauari Rural Producers’ Association (ASPROC).

Institutions responsible:

Carauari Rural Producers’ Association (ASPROC)

Financing and management platform that facilitates access to credit for the forest bioeconomy chains, reducing deforestation in the region.

How it will be implemented:

Hiring and training of local activators and support for unlocking at least 2,500 credit agreements under the National Program for Strengthening Smallholdings (PRONAF), in addition to providing consultancy to 15 cooperatives seeking financing and periodic advisory in management.

Location:

Acre, the Amazon, Pará and Rondônia

Scenario and Impacts:

Given the lack of a connection between financial agents and the community, PRONAF credit is underutilized, with a mere 1.1% used for promoting the forest bioeconomy chains. Once the project is up and running, the expected results are:

• Reduction in deforestation by encouraging forest bioeconomy chains (nuts, açaí, fishing, woods, oils and resins);
• Bankarization of 2,500 producers to leverage production;
• Higher incomes and productivity through technical assistance;
• Expansion of access to PRONAF credit.

Institutions responsible:

Conexsus – The Sustainable Connections Institute

Innovation born in the Amazon to accelerate 30 startups with solutions for the biodiversity chains.

How it will be implemented:

Setting up a blended finance investment fund to accelerate 30 startups in order to leverage forest business, by encouraging an entrepreneurial environment and support from investors.

Location:

The entire Amazon biome.

Scenario and Impacts:

Shortage of businesses involved in the forest bioeconomy and the need to foster an economy to replace deforestation. Once the project is up and running, the expected results are:

• Launching of forest-based entrepreneurship;
• 30 startups accelerated;
• Generation of income benefitting 10,000 families.

Institutions responsible:

Institute for Conservation and Sustainable Development of the Amazon (Idesam)

Scientific and technological development to encourage crop, livestock farming and forest integration, adding value through the species of the bioeconomy and reducing carbon emissions.

How it will be implemented:

Development of new raw materials, ingredients, products and technologies to add value to the forest production chains. Also, the expansion of new zero or low-carbon technologies within the agroforestry systems.

Location:

Legal Amazon area

Scenario and Impacts:

Shortage of technologies available for adding value to forest produce, absence of methodologies for Brazilian systems in the Amazon to measure carbon emissions. Once the project is up and running, the expected results are:

• Agregação de valor aos produtos da floresta;
• Development of low/zero-carbon technologies;
• Renewable technologies for integrating business, companies and startups.

Institutions responsible:

Embrapa.