Photo: Alexandre de Moraes/UFPA
Text: Disclosure
Biotechnology plays an essential role in the sustainable development of the Amazon, as it has the potential to add value to local biodiversity, promoting the sustainable management of natural resources and the development of new products.
According to Renata Piazzon, General Director of the Arapyaú Institute and one of the speakers at the 2nd edition of the International Conference on the Amazon and New Economies, which will take place between November 6th and 8th, at the Hangar Convention Center, in Belém (PA), the main challenges in this journey are the lack of adequate infrastructure, such as laboratories and research centers, which limits the development of biotechnological innovations, and the scarcity of public and private funding for projects in this area.
The journalism initiative Amazônia Vox is providing its first live, in-person coverage this week. With a team of twelve professionals, the main points and debates of the panels during the 2nd International Conference on the Amazon and New Economies will be highlighted.Follow the coverage here.
The combination of public and private capital and the development of policies to promote science, technology and innovation (ST&I) in the Amazon are essential to reverse this scenario.
Renata Piazzon, who will participate in a panel on November 7th at 2:00 p.m., emphasizes that partnerships between universities, research centers and companies are essential to boost the sector. “It is necessary to foster partnerships between universities, research centers and companies to increase investment in this area and boost the sector by creating biotechnology business incubators, for example.”
The global biotechnology market, valued at US$1,023 billion in 2022, is projected to reach US$10,129.16 billion by the year 2030, with a compound annual growth rate of 29% between 2023 and 2023.
The speaker also talks about how the integration of traditional knowledge with modern technologies can benefit biotechnology in the Amazon, which can be combined with modern biotechnology techniques, such as bioprospecting, to identify new bioactive compounds and develop innovative products. “The science of forest peoples also allows us to combine traditional agricultural practices with innovative technology to create crop varieties that are more resilient to pests and adverse weather conditions. Embrapa (Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation) has developed pest-resistant cassava varieties using both biotechnology and traditional cultivation practices known to riverside communities, increasing not only productivity but also the preservation of local culture,” she says.
About the International Conference on Amazon and New Economies and COP30
For Piazzon, the International Conference on the Amazon and New Economies and COP30 (the UN climate change conference to be held in Brazil in 2025) play a crucial role in defining the biotechnology agenda in the Amazon and attracting investment to the region.
Both conferences promote dialogue between different stakeholders, including governments, NGOs, academia and the private sector. This exchange of ideas can result in collaborations that encourage research and development in biotechnology.
“The meetings also represent an opportunity to create policies that integrate environmental conservation and the sustainable use of biodiversity, which are fundamental for biotechnology.”
The 2nd International Conference on the Amazon and New Economies is a partnership with the government of Pará and is presented by Vale. Its sponsors are: BHP (master category); Hydro (premium category); Itaú and MRN (Belém category); Alcoa (waste management category); FIEPA (industry category). The institutional supporters are: CNI, CEBDS, Aberje, Uma Concertação para a Amazônia. Sesi and Senai are also supporters. Latam is the official airline.
Service
Second edition of the International Conference on Amazon and New Economies
Data: 6 a 8/11/2024
Location: Belem (PA)
Free registration:https://www.amazoniaenovaseconomias.com.br/
Target audience: professionals from sectors linked to new economies, public managers, business executives, sustainability and ESG professionals, managers and professionals from civil society organizations, communities of ancestral and indigenous peoples, impact businesses, cooperatives and associations, academics, environmentalists, the press, the general public.