Embrapa highlights the potential for use and income of macroalgae that is still little cultivated in the country

Research projects on Kappaphycus alvarezzi indicate ecosystem benefits, such as carbon fixation, nutrient filter and bioremediation

04.07.2024 | 16:33 (UTC -3)
Clenio Araujo
Photo: Karla Virgilio
Photo: Karla Virgilio

This week, Danielle de Bem, general head of Embrapa Pesca and Aquaculture (Palmas-TO), participated in a public hearing in the Federal Senate that discussed macroalgae Kappaphycus alvarezzi. The potential of this aquatic plant is extensive and diverse, but still little explored in Brazil.

Danielle contextualized the various applications of macroalgae, which can be used in the pharmaceutical and food industries and also as a biostimulant and biofuel. As ecosystem benefits, the plant acts in the generation of favorable environments (developing associated flora and fauna), in carbon fixation (therefore, helping to mitigate the effects of climate change), as a filter for nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen, combating eutrophication) and bioremediation (maintaining soil quality and increasing disease resistance in plants).

The general head of Embrapa Fisheries and Aquaculture showed data and figures from the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture (MPA) on the current scenario of Kappaphycus alvarezzi in the country. As regions suitable for cultivating macroalgae, the area between Sepetiba Bay, in Rio de Janeiro, and Ilha Bela, in São Paulo, and also the area between Itapoá and Jaguaruna, in Santa Catarina.

As for potential production and financial return, data from the ministry indicate that: in Rio de Janeiro, there are 48,6 thousand tons per year and R$243 million; in Santa Catarina, annual production potential of 82,9 thousand tons and financial return of R$232 million; and, in São Paulo, there are 43,9 thousand tons of production per year and R$198 million in financial return. In other words, only in areas currently authorized for cultivation the potential financial return is more than R$670 million per year.

Proposal elaboration

Danielle spoke about research proposals that are being developed in partnership by several institutions. The objective is to subsidize the development of a national chain of production, commercialization and consumption of Kappaphycus alvarezzi. According to her, “we need to have customers at the beginning, in the middle and at the end of the chain and the proposals are designed to generate different impacts for both the producer, the production system and the environment; all aligned with the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals”.

The general head of Embrapa Fisheries and Aquaculture highlighted the opportunity to create and maintain a network between several institutions to study both macroalgae and aquaculture in general. In this sense, the management, by the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), of the financial resources that can be raised by the proposals “will give technical and scientific credibility to these proposals because only those that are approved by ad hoc evaluators will proceed to the phase of execution” according to her.

After this general overview, partners from each of the three states in which the Kappaphycus alvarezzi commented on their respective projects. David Campos, researcher at Embrapa Soils (Rio de Janeiro-RJ), spoke of the eight projects that should be developed in that state. Valéria Cress Gelli, researcher at the São Paulo Fisheries Institute, commented on the six planned for this state. And Alex Alves dos Santos, researcher at the Agricultural Research and Rural Extension Company of Santa Catarina (Epagri), spoke of the 11 that should be carried out in that state. In total, the amounts that will be requested for the 25 projects total more than R$12 million.

Senator Jorge Seif (PL-SC), who chaired the public hearing, invited colleagues from Parliament to, together, propose funding for research. “The financial value for so much potential that this macroalgae has, for these institutions that have our trust, is negligible for everything it can offer to Brazil”, he defended.

Also participating as speakers at the public hearing were: Leonardo Cabral Costa, from the Florianópolis Rural Union; Maulori Cabral, professor at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ); and Dárlio Teixeira, from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN).

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