Sustainable tropical agriculture is debated at the Future Norway Forum

2024-11-11 20:13:00

The Future Forum Seminar – Norway – held yesterday in Oslo, presented the foundations of sustainable development and contemporary challenges, such as carbon reduction. The lectures also dealt with new proposals for adjusting the climate and society. Among the highlights of the seminar was Regenerative Tropical Agriculture, a cultivation model that seeks not only to sustain food production, but also to restore and improve the natural ecosystems of tropical regions.

According to the director of Forum of the Future, Fernando de Barros, the environment is where everyone lives and development is what everyone does in an attempt to improve our luck there. “The event was based on sustainability, governance and the environment. The environment does not exist as a sphere separate from human actions, ambitions and needs”, he analyzed.

The president of the Instituto Fórum do Futuro (IFF), Paulo Romano, in turn, reported on the evolution of food security and the Amazon since the 1970s and recalled the enormous challenges in that region. He told those present and the audience via the internet that there was a lack of scientific knowledge even though they also ensured the efficient use of soils, mainly in the Cerrados.

Regarding the efficiency in the use of natural resources as a prerequisite for sustainability, César Borges, CEO DP of IFF, reinforced that putting knowledge and technology into the reality of millions of rural producers could be a utopia, but today it is an existential and urgent.

Regarding the binomial ‘transformation and dignity’, the World Bank manager, Diego Arias, highlighted that his institution is a close partner of the Future Forum and is working closely with countries such as Brazil and Colombia to bring solutions in order to make agriculture not only sustainable for countries facing climate change and biodiversity loss, but also for other countries around the globe.

The former Minister of Agriculture of Brazil, Roberto Rodrigues, highlighted that no country in the world is free from the concerns of food security, energy transition, climate change and social development and commented on some solutions. Malnutrition or lack of access to healthy nutrition was the concern raised by Chief Action Officer, Lujain Alqodmani, of the EAT Forum.

Regenerative tropical agriculture as a new frontier of sustainability was mentioned by IFF advisor, Evaldo Vilela. He explained how to produce more sustainable food. The president of the Associated Group for Sustainable Agriculture (GAAS), Eduardo Martins, in his speech said that it is necessary to organize with local and regional means what the farmer mainly depends on.

In the regenerative agriculture theme, climate resilience was demonstrated as its starting point. Researcher Pablo Rodrigo Hardoim (GAAS) highlighted that today a big problem is the loss of soil.

With regard to connections and what science is capable of doing in reality, José Oswaldo Siqueira, professor at the University of Lavras, explained how important the integration between science, technology and innovation is. Embrapa researcher Pedro Luis de Freitas presented a system that measures, controls and manages goals and processes.

Another important aspect discussed at the Seminar was the bioeconomy and the expansion of the global economy. The former Minister of Planning, Paulo Haddad, explained that in the current phase of science and technology in agriculture there is the possibility of doubling production, with existing natural resources, without deforestation, with healthy production and resistant to climate change.

Brazil presents the paradox of being the largest food producer and having 33 million people with severe food insecurity. That’s why researcher Mariângela Virgínia (UFLA and Embrapa) spoke about food and nutritional security and the role of Brazilian science in combating hunger.

The use of advanced precision, monitoring and control platforms for tropical production also with artificial intelligence was mentioned at the seminar. All of this could be used to implement tools, in addition to several other resources mentioned in the forum by professor Carlos Júnior from the State University of Mato Grosso.

An analysis of economic, social and environmental weaknesses and potential based on the political reorganization of contemporary space was carried out by the rector of the University of Lavras, José Scolforo. Researcher Judson Valentim (Embrapa-Acre) focused on a new territorial, economic, social and environmental perspective of the Real Amazon. He emphasized that there are several populations that are excluded from the process and debates in the region even though there are almost 30 million inhabitants in that territory.

Sustainable architecture was also present in the event’s programming. Ana Paula Preto Rodrigues, architect, director of EDB Polióis Vegetais, the green house and the civil construction panels, contemplating the potential of vegetables and human dignity. She described the advantages of plant-based polyurethane for her building.

The energy transition in tropical agriculture is important and researcher Joaquim Paulo Silva (Ufla) spoke about Security and Energy Transition in Tropical Agriculture at the Seminar and said that it is necessary to look at the evolution of the electrical system and carry out strategic planning for the medium and long term.

Embrapa’s executive director of Business, Ana Euler, addressed innovation, business and technology transfer as a central issue in her Embrapa business and why she is a protagonist in innovation, business and technology transfer.

Bridging the gap to a sustainable future, consultant Mário Salimon’s presentation focused on intergenerational communication. For his part, businessman Leonardo Souza analyzed the essential participation of youth in the Agro and society debate.

Closing the seminar, the general head of Embrapa Environment, Paula Packer, gave a presentation on science and communication in an accelerated environment of transformation.

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**Interview with Evaldo Vilela, Advisor to Instituto Fórum do Futuro**

**Interviewer:** Thank you​ for joining us, Evaldo. The Future Forum⁤ Seminar you participated in recently highlighted regenerative ⁣tropical ⁤agriculture as a key strategy for sustainable development. Can you explain what makes this model so crucial for addressing contemporary challenges?

**Evaldo Vilela:** Absolutely, thank you for having me. Regenerative tropical agriculture is essential because it goes beyond just sustaining food production; it ‍aims⁣ to heal and enhance‌ our natural ecosystems. Given the challenges we face—climate change,‍ biodiversity loss, and food insecurity—this method encourages practices that restore soil health, improve biodiversity, ​and increase carbon sequestration.

**Interviewer:** It was interesting ⁣to hear Paulo⁣ Romano discuss the historical evolution of ⁣food security in the ⁤Amazon. What specific⁤ challenges do you see today ​in this ⁤region that make regenerative practices necessary?

**Evaldo Vilela:** The Amazon ⁣faces significant pressures from deforestation, intensive agriculture, and⁤ climate variability. While we have the‌ scientific knowledge to manage these challenges, the application⁣ of this knowledge is often⁤ lacking. Regenerative​ practices can help us make efficient use of the land. They also empower local farmers, ensuring that agricultural practices‌ contribute‌ positively to both the‍ environment and their communities.

**Interviewer:** César Borges mentioned making knowledge and ⁤technology accessible‌ to⁣ rural producers as both a hope and a necessity. How can we bridge this gap ⁢to ensure these farmers benefit from innovations in agriculture?

**Evaldo ‍Vilela:** It’s all about collaboration. We need to ‌create networks between⁣ researchers, government agencies,⁣ and the farmers themselves to facilitate knowledge sharing. Technologies like ⁣precision agriculture, which utilize AI and monitoring systems, can be implemented more ​effectively with proper support and training for local producers.‌ Tailoring these innovations to fit their specific needs is crucial.

**Interviewer:** Diego Arias​ from the World ⁢Bank underscored ​the importance of making agriculture sustainable in the context of climate change. How ⁢does regenerative tropical ⁣agriculture play ⁤a‌ role ⁤in this ⁤sustainability ⁣framework?

**Evaldo Vilela:** Regenerative agriculture aligns⁣ perfectly with the sustainability goals articulated by institutions like the World Bank. By focusing ⁣on practices that encourage biodiversity and ‌regenerative practices, we can create⁤ systems‌ of agriculture that are not only productive but also resilient to environmental shocks.‌ It’s about shifting our mindset to see agriculture as a part of the ecosystem rather than ​separate⁣ from ​it.

**Interviewer:** Lastly, as a researcher involved in this field, what​ message do you want to convey to the participants of the Future ‌Forum Seminar about the future of food systems in ⁣tropical regions?

**Evaldo ‌Vilela:** My message is one of hope and⁣ action. We have the knowledge⁤ and capabilities to transform our food systems into ‍sustainable, regenerative models; what we need now is commitment and collaboration among all players—governments, NGOs, and local communities. Only together can we create a resilient future for our food systems and the ecosystems ⁢that support them.

**Interviewer:** Thank you, Evaldo, for sharing your insights on this important ‌topic. ⁢It’s clear that regenerative tropical agriculture offers a pathway towards a sustainable and equitable future.