Coopernorte and Embrapa strengthen climate resilience.

Selected to represent Brazilian cooperatives at COP30 in Belém (PA), the project “Embrapa–Coopernorte Cooperation: innovation and climate resilience for the Amazon” has been gaining prominence for presenting solutions aimed at adapting to and mitigating the effects of climate change on agriculture in the region.

The initiative is the result of a partnership between Coopernorte and Embrapa, focusing on reducing climate vulnerabilities and strengthening the resilience of production systems in the Amazon. The work involves more than 90 cooperative members from the municipalities of Paragominas and Rondon do Pará (PA), and has already reached around a thousand people through demonstration units, field days and workshops.

Among the main actions are the implementation of adapted cultivars — such as sunflower, corn, sorghum, rice, and cowpea —, the expansion of the no-till farming system, integrated pest management, and crop-livestock integration, with the evaluation of 20 grass varieties. These practices seek to increase land use efficiency and reduce the environmental impact of production.

According to Rodrigo Simões, Business and Inputs Manager at Coopernorte, the project has been fundamental in validating technologies suited to the local reality. "The partnership with Embrapa brings research closer to the field and offers sustainable alternatives that improve productivity and reduce climate risks," he emphasizes.

Prior to this cooperation, many producers in the region used technologies developed for other soil and climate conditions, which increased costs and limited crop performance. Through this collaborative effort, it was possible to consolidate production in already cleared areas and expand the use of conservation practices, reducing pressure on further deforestation.

Simões also highlights the role of cooperatives as agents of innovation in the field. "Projects like this show that sharing knowledge and resources can generate practical and replicable solutions for other regions of the Amazon," he states.