This is an ITV initiative supported by Fundo Vale, as part of the 2030 Systemic Cocoa Project, aligned with Vale’s 2030 Forest Goal.
To raise awareness among farmers about the importance of sustainable practices, the Vale Institute of Technology (ITV), with the support of Fundo Vale, has produced a leaflet called “Pollinators: the small creatures that contribute to fruit and seed production in agriculture.”
Launched in November during the Carajás Protected Areas Knowledge Management and Social and Biological Diversity Conference, organized by the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio) in Parauapebas, Pará, the leaflet is available in both physical and digital formats. Featuring straightforward language and an attractive design, the document explains the connection between biodiversity conservation, the production of high-quality food and socioeconomic stability.
The leaflet shows that the more floral resources there are in crop areas, the higher the quality of pollination services, resulting in improved agricultural production. It also shows that agroforestry systems, such as those that include crops like cocoa, play an important role in nature conservation while being profitable for farmers.
“Strengthening social and environmental businesses together with local producers is an important strategy for the 2030 Forest Goal. This leaflet arose from our aim to disseminate sustainable farming practices in the region. The idea is to raise awareness about the importance of pollinators for various agricultural crops in the region, not just cocoa production,” explains Tereza Giannini, a researcher at ITV.
In order to understand the economic impact of insect pollination on palm fruit production in the Amazon region, Pará Federal University and ITV conducted a study, which concluded that this ecosystem service represents a monetary value of R$706 million per year. The results of this research were published in the scientific journal Arthropod-Plant Interactions in February. You can read the study here.
About the 2030 Systemic Cocoa Project
The creation of the leaflet is an educational action stemming from Fundo Vale’s support for the 2030 Systemic Cocoa Project, which seeks to provide strategies to foster the development of Brazilian cocoa farming, with a focus on productive conservation and guaranteeing better living and working conditions within the cocoa chain. The project is part of Vale’s 2030 Forest Goal, one of the largest voluntary initiatives to restore and conserve forests currently under way in Brazil. The knowledge generated in support of the 2030 Systemic Cocoa Project will benefit agroforestry companies involved in habitat recovery actions, contributing to a more sustainable and resilient sector.