Embrapa launches open innovation program in fruit growing

Embrapa Cassava and Fruit Culture (Cruz das Almas, Bahia) is launching a notice for the Open Innovation Program in Fruit Culture – InovaFrut. The objective is to invite companies, cooperatives, associations and other agents in the productive sector to develop technological solutions in partnership with Embrapa through the open innovation mechanisms provided for in the Regulatory Framework for Science, Technology and Innovation (CT&I). Registration is open until September 13th. The Program was officially presented during the 72nd Ordinary Meeting of the Fruit Growing Sector Chamber.

“Open innovation” is considered to be the introduction of novelty or improvement, in the productive and/or social environment, of creations obtained, generated and/or developed in partnership with other institutions, in order to improve the development of products and processes, provide better services for society, increase efficiency and added value. The InovaFrut notice does not aim to select ready-made projects, but rather proposals for joint action for co-creation, which enable planned actions from the moment the idea is conceived until the achievement of the intended result, or co-development, which enable the evolution of a product's technological maturity or existing process.

Proposals must be submitted on two main subjects: ten open themes in fruit growing (more specifically pineapple, banana, citrus, papaya and passion fruit) and Co-development of Embrapa assets selected for potential reach, relevance and impact.

During the meeting, researcher Francisco Laranjeira, general manager of Embrapa Cassava and Fruticulture, highlighted the process of producing formulated and biodegradable tubes for seedling production, the software for recommending liming and fertilization Adubatec and the Agropragas digital platform. “Agropragas Maracujá, for example, is a success, but we need to expand it to other crops. Furthermore, all technologies were considered within the context of “one health”, which recognizes the connection between fruits, people and animals, that is, human, animal, plant and environmental health”, he explained.

The notice is available on the Embrapa website (www.embrapa.br) and proposals must be submitted exclusively by filling out an electronic form.