Embrapa and IBPecan seek to exchange information on pecan trees

During the 3rd South American Pecan Symposium, held on November 15 and 16, Embrapa and the Brazilian Institute of Pecaniculture (IBPecan), representing Brazil, signed a letter of intent to strengthen the exchange of experiences and knowledge and reinforce the implementation of research, the formation of partnerships and the search for resources for the crop. The objective is to stimulate the development of technological solutions for the production, management and commercialization of pecan nuts. 

The letter was signed by representatives of the National Institute of Agricultural Research (INIA) and the Uruguayan Producers Association (APPU), for Uruguay; and the National Institute of Agricultural Technology (Inta), the Argentine Chamber of Pecan Producers (CAPPECan) and the Civil Association of Pecan Nut (Cluster del Pecán), for Argentina.

“This letter of intent consolidates the willingness that exists between researchers from research institutions in Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay, together with producer associations from these three countries involved in pecan nuts. It gives us the opportunity to jointly seek improvements in pecan nut production and quality in South America,” says Carlos Martins, the researcher responsible for pecan nut research projects at Embrapa Clima Temperado (RS).

About the Symposium

Organized by Embrapa, Inia, Inta and the Pecan Producers Association in Uruguay, the event brought together people involved in research, production, industrialization and technical advice on pecan nuts in the region. It also hosted a Field Day with a tour of orchards and technical lectures at thematic stations on the crop. The event took place at the "Wilson Ferreira Aldunate" Experimental Station in Inia Las Brujas, Uruguay. 

During the event, Carlos Martins gave a talk on the current situation of the pecan nut, especially in Brazil, together with the president of the Brazilian Institute of Pecaniculture (IBPecan), Eduardo Basso. On the occasion, the situation in Uruguay and Argentina was also discussed by representatives of the respective countries.

Embrapa's participation also included a lecture by researcher José Maria Alba Filipini, who spoke about soil and climate zoning for the crop; and by Embrapa postdoctoral fellow Cristiano Helwig, who participated in a panel on “Management of Pecan Cultivation.” More specifically, he spoke about “Pruning and thinning of pecan trees in orchards with shade problems.”

In general, papers from Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina on pecan nuts and their production were presented, covering areas such as ecophysiology, genetics, management, quality, products, marketing and socioeconomics. The results of these papers were presented in the form of posters and technical summaries. Around 30 technical-scientific papers were part of the event.

Another important point was the mention of the publication, in a special edition, of the scientific journal Agrociência, where, in 2025, the work developed with pecaniculture in the three countries will be shown. Technical-scientific articles with technological solutions for pecan nuts will be included. 

Show in Photos 

A new feature of this edition was the organization of a photography exhibition, made by producers, students and researchers participating in the event, as a way of guaranteeing a cultural space. Ten photographs were selected that represented the idea proposed by the initiative: to show life through images through pecan.