Agroforestry Congress addresses regenerative production and climate change

The XIII Brazilian Congress of Agroforestry Systems (CBSA), promoted by the Brazilian Society of Agroforestry Systems, to be held from August 26th to 30th, will have the theme "Regenerative Production and Adaptation to Climate Change”. Aimed at researchers, extension workers, teachers , students, technicians, producers and entrepreneurs, the Congress will be online and registrations can now be made on the website (https://eventos.congresse.me/xiii-cbsaf).

The event will shed light on the concept of regeneration, which according to researcher Elizabeth Nogueira Fernandes, from Embrapa, has become a necessity in the face of the climate crisis caused by global warming. “Different from conservation, which is concerned with maintaining the current conditions of ecosystems, regeneration seeks to restore and revitalize degraded ecosystems, reintroducing native species, recovering soils, conserving river basins and promoting biodiversity”, explains the researcher.

In addition to four federal universities (UFS, UFES; UFRB and UFPB) and one state (UENF), the Congress has the participation of five Embrapa units: Dairy Cattle, Soils; Agrobiology; Food Agroindustry and Environment. During the event, there will be exhibitions at virtual stands of governmental and non-governmental organizations related to the use and dissemination of agroforestry technology.

The opening conference (Agroforestry as an option for global land use) will be given by professor from the University of Florida, PK Ramachandran Nair. There will be three days of seminars, round tables and mini-courses. The last day will be reserved for virtual technical visits (exhibition of agroforestry crops in different biomes in Brazil). All activities will be recorded and made available on the event website for six months after the event.

Side event

On the morning of the second day of the Congress (28/08), the seminar “Regenerative dairy farming: Integrating science into the field” will take place in person at Embrapa Gado de Leite. The seminar is part of the CBSAF program and will be broadcast live. Five lectures will be presented with the following themes:

- National program for decarbonized agricultural production chains;

- Low carbon milk;

- Uncovering GHG emissions in milk production: a journey through sustainable practices focusing on measurement and opportunities;

- Regenerative practices for dairy farming;

- Environmental, biodiversity and socioeconomic increases in silvopastoral systems.

CBSAF is the main discussion forum on agroforestry technology in South America. Given the geographical area, climatic range, mega biodiversity, regional agroecological variations favorable to crop diversification and animal husbandry, Brazil presents ideal conditions for the establishment and development of successful SAFs in socioeconomic and environmental terms. Agroforestry technologies (forestry, silvopastoral and agrosilvopastoral) have advanced a lot, but require more research and innovation to expand their role in the country's sustainable rural development.