Mapa and partner institutions hold a symposium on Agroforestry Systems with Cocoa in Pará

Around 300 participants including researchers, teachers, students, rural producers, cooperatives, public managers, consultants, technicians, industry professionals and other actors related to the cocoa and chocolate chain participated this week in the II Symposium on Agroforestry Systems with Cocoa, in Altamira (SHOVEL). At the event, held on June 14th and 15th, they were able to exchange information and technical-scientific experiences about agroforestry systems as a model of sustainable agriculture.

The Symposium was held by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa), through the Executive Committee of the Cocoa Farming Plan (Ceplac), the Secretariat of Innovation, Sustainable Development, Irrigation and Cooperativism (SDI), in partnership with the Research Institute Environmental of the Amazon (IPAM) and other institutions. The initiative aims to propose policies and programs that increase the efficiency of the cocoa value chain in the Amazon and in the state of Pará.

During the two days, seven panels dealt with topics such as entrepreneurship opportunities, commercialization, access to international markets, traceability, financing, technical assistance and technological innovations. The director of Ceplac, Lucimara Chiari, highlighted the importance of the Symposium for the trans-Amazonian cocoa hub. “This is the cocoa-producing region in Brazil that is experiencing the fastest growth in the use of agroforestry systems and the recovery of degraded pasture areas, combining production and socio-environmental responsibility.”

The theme “Decarbonized Chains in the valorization of agricultural products” was presented by the director of the Department of Development of Production Chains and Geographical Indications (Decap/SDI), Fabiana Villa Alves, during the panel “Resilience of Agroforestry Systems (SAF): adaptation to climate change and the role of SAF in mitigating environmental liabilities”, which also included lectures from IPAM and the Mixed Agricultural Cooperative of Tomé-Açu (CAMTA).

In addition to Mapa and IPAM, the government of Pará, GIZ, Embrapa Amazônia Oriental, the Federal University of Pará, the Brazilian Society of Agroforestry Systems, the Forestry Development Institute, among other supporters, participated in organizing the event.