Embrapa and Paraná establish partnership to invest in the soybean supply chain.

Embrapa and the Government of Paraná signed a letter of intent today with a projected investment of R$ 5 million to strengthen value addition in the Paraná soybean supply chain. The signing took place at the opening of the Summer Field Day at Embrapa Soja, with the participation of Embrapa's president, Silvia Massruhá, in a remote format, the Secretary of Innovation and Artificial Intelligence, Alex Canziani, the head of Embrapa Soja, Alexandre Nepomuceno, and the advisor from the Araucária Foundation, Cristianne Cordeiro Nascimento.

The initiative brings together research, technological development, and public policies focused on sustainable agribusiness. The project has four main areas of focus. The first targets cultivars with differentiated protein and oil profiles. The second seeks amino acid profiles capable of increasing feed conversion efficiency, boosting weight gain, and reducing costs in meat production. The third focuses on advanced biofuels, with higher-quality cultivars for this market. The fourth aims at new uses for soybean oil, such as lubricants, asphalt, and vulcanized materials used in shoes and machine belts.

Silvia Massruhá stated that the partnership projects Brazilian soybeans into the coming decades. According to her, the work focuses on innovation, bioeconomy, and energy transition. It also broadens the perspective on soybeans beyond the production of vegetable protein.

Alex Canziani stated that the goal is to transform Paraná into a center of intelligence and leadership in the bioeconomy. According to him, the project aims for the "soybean of the future," using gene editing and classical breeding to obtain a superior nutritional profile, industrial quality, and energy sustainability.

Alexandre Nepomuceno warned of the need to reduce dependence on grain exports. According to him, China has encouraged production in closer regions, such as Africa, Russia, and India. For the researcher, the advancement of value addition takes on a strategic character. He advocated for the use of soybeans by Brazilian industry in new products, from cosmetics to footwear.

Cristianne Cordeiro Nascimento stated that the investment will structure an integrated program and strengthen Paraná's competitiveness. At the Field Day, Embrapa Soja also presented topics such as stink bug management, crop diversification, inoculation, weeds, and soybean and bean cultivars.