Session title: Brazilian R&D contributions to innovation in food systems Convener: Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation – Embrapa
September 29th, 9:30am-11am (EDT)/10:30-12am (BRT)
Moderator: Daniela Biaggioni Lopes; Researcher, Strategic Planning/Strategy Office; Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa).
daniela.lopes@embrapa.br;
linkedin.com/in/daniela-biaggioni-lopes/The Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) is an innovation-driven public company that focuses on the generation of knowledge and technology for Brazilian agriculture. Embrapa was established in 1973 by the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply (MAPA) to develop the technological foundation for a tropical model of agriculture and animal farming (
www.embrapa.br/en/sobre-a-embrapa). The initiative has been tasked with providing Brazil with food security and a leading position in the international market for food, fiber and energy.
Embrapa is one of the largest public research institutions in the tropical world, with 8,042 employees working in 43 research centers, located in strategic Brazilian areas and in the administrative units, at the headquarters, in Brasília. Embrapa connects a national agricultural research network in partnership with universities and research institutes, private companies, foundations and civil society. It maintains an international network of collaboration with 127 institutions in 47 countries, and an international program for scientific and technical cooperation (Embrapa-Labex). Based on the economic impacts and social gains of a sample of technological solutions, the social profit returned by the Corporation to Brazilian society in 2021 was calculated to be around US$ 16 billion. (
www.embrapa.br/en/balanco-social-2021).
The integrated perspective of the SDGs is guiding Embrapa´s effort of internalization of the 2030 Agenda, considering the centrality of agriculture, food security and the impacts of climate change. Embrapa generates knowledge, technologies and policy advisory that contribute to the productive inclusion of farmers, to the conservation of biodiversity, rational use of biotic and abiotic resources, as well as the resilience of communities and biomes in face of climate change. Thus, the challenges and opportunities built in the 2030 Agenda speak directly to Embrapa´s mission. In 2021, 156 technologies were aligned with 131 SDGs targets, contributing to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda. Embrapa received, in June 2022, the FAO Champion Award, the UN agency’s highest corporate award, that recognizes significant and outstanding contributions towards advancing FAO’s overall goals, including the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
This session is designed for sharing and discussing information on scientific advances and technological innovation for sustainable food systems, using the 2030 Agenda framework. All four speakers are Embrapa´s researchers.
Internalization of the 2030 Agenda in Embrapa (Daniela Biaggioni Lopes, moderator): Embrapa´s network for the SDGs (Rede ODS Embrapa) structure, goals and results will be presented as an institutional innovation.
Speaker 1 – Vinicius Benites:
Innovation for optimal use of nutrients in brazilian agriculture. Technological advances to ensure suficient food through optimal use of nutrients (alternative fertilizers, use of residues, biofertilizers, biotechnology) will be presented (SDGs 2, 8, 12)
Speaker 2 - Alineaurea Silva:
Social innovation and sustainable agriculture. Examples of research methodology that promotes food security in a sustainable and inclusive way will be discussed. In this aspect, the consolidation of collaborative networks takes on a proeminent role in applied and dynamic research that recognizes local potential to address food security, generating solutions to different geoenvironments, anchored in active and strengthened partnerships. (SDGs 1, 2, 5, 6, 15)
Speaker 3 - Fabíola Fogaça :
Innovation for food. Examples of research that focus on food safety, health, adding value to food, new products from non-animal sources and good practices to reduce losses and waste (SDGs 2, 3, 12).
Question and Answers (15 min)