Seminar proposes solutions for challenges in cocoa and açaí supply chains in Pará

To strengthen the cocoa and açaí supply chains in Pará, the Sustainable Rural Project – Amazon held a seminar from July 1st to 3rd at the Guamá Science and Technology Park (PCT) in Belém. The event marked the conclusion of a three-day program and brought together representatives from the productive base, the private sector, socioproductive organizations, research institutions, and different spheres of government.

On the last day, open to the public, market studies and plans for strengthening the two productive chains were presented, developed from participatory diagnostics with producers, cooperatives, technicians, companies, and government representatives. The studies analyze bottlenecks and opportunities, while the plans propose concrete solutions to increase competitiveness, add value to production, and expand access to Amazonian products in new markets.

“This is an opportunity to share, with all links in the chain, the results obtained after a process of active listening and dialogue with producers, technicians, companies, and government representatives. The proposals presented aim to address structural challenges and promote innovation, access to markets, and the valuation of standing forests,” highlighted Pedro Xavier, coordinator of Strengthening Productive Chains and Markets of the Project.

Connection - The program began with a technical agenda, with the State Management Group (GGE) of the ABC+ Plan, supported by the State Secretariat for Agricultural Development and Fisheries (Sedap). “This was a moment to identify synergies in the cocoa and açaí chains in Pará, that is, to see how different actions and partners can connect and strengthen each other. It is a way to ensure that good ABC+ practices reach producers in an organized and efficient manner,” informed João Crescêncio, deputy secretary of the Secretariat for Innovation, Sustainable Development, Irrigation, and Cooperativism (SDI) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa).

On the second day, the highlight was the dialogue between the Socioproductive Organizations (OSPs) already supported by the Project and those that will join the initiative starting this year. “This moment is for a lot of construction, dialogue, and participation. We will reintroduce the Project and discuss technical assistance, collective benefits, training actions, and possibilities to adapt the initial plan to the interests and vocations of each organization,” explained Tadeu Assad, general coordinator of the Project and president of the Brazilian Institute of Development and Sustainability (IABS).

The market study presented on the third day analyzed over 200 points of sale in Brazil and abroad and interviewed more than 900 consumers, mapping trends, preferences, and competitive differentials of Amazonian sociobiodiversity products. The data should serve as a subsidy for commercial strategies and public policies aimed at income generation and the valuation of standing forests.

“Science is present throughout the productive chain, from seed development to health impacts. It, along with innovation, is essential for the sustainable growth of cocoa and açaí, the main crops in Pará. This event marks an important step, especially in market structuring, and should be the first of many aimed at qualifying production, creating new products, and valuing quality,” emphasized Jesus Souza, coordinator of the Center for Valuation of Bioactive Compounds of the Amazon (Cvacba) at the Federal University of Pará (UFPA), located at the PCT Guamá.

Challenges - The expectation is that the materials presented will become practical instruments for the sustainable development of these chains in the coming years. Pará is the national leader in cocoa production and accounts for over 90% of the açaí cultivated in Brazil. However, challenges such as access to technical assistance, the supply of seedlings and certifications, traceability, and processing infrastructure still limit the full development of these activities.

The Sustainable Rural Project – Amazon works on strengthening six sociobiodiversity chains (cocoa, açaí, coffee, round fish, Brazil nuts, and managed pirarucu), directly benefiting over 1,300 families, with strong participation from women, youth, and traditional peoples. The initiative is the result of a technical cooperation with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), involving resources from the government of the United Kingdom, with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock as the institutional beneficiary and IABS as the executing entity.

Reference in the Amazon - The PCT Guamá is an initiative of the Government of Pará, through the State Secretariat for Science, Technology, and Higher, Professional, and Technological Education (Sectet), in partnership with UFPA and the Federal Rural University of the Amazon (Ufra), and managed by the Guamá Foundation.

It is the first technological park in the Northern region of Brazil and aims to stimulate applied research and innovative and sustainable entrepreneurship to improve the quality of life of the population.

Located on the banks of the Guamá River, which names the complex, the PCT is situated between the campuses of the two universities and has an ecosystem rich in biodiversity, extending over 72 hectares, designated for buildings and the Environmental Protection Area (APA) of the Metropolitan Region of Belém.

The complex has more than 30 resident companies (physically installed in the Park), over 40 associates (linked to the Park but not physically installed), 12 research and development laboratories for processes and products, and a technical school.

The PCT Guamá is part of the National Association of Entities Promoting Innovative Enterprises (Anprotec) and the International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation (Iasp), and is part of the largest innovation ecosystem in the world.