Research will measure greenhouse gas emissions in the production of table grapes in the São Francisco Valley

Research project led by Embrapa Semiárido (Petrolina-PE) seeks to evaluate greenhouse gas emissions in the production of table grapes in the São Francisco Valley, in addition to carbon stocks in the soil. The objective is to guide practices that mitigate emissions and support public policies related to the production of low-carbon grapes.

The Vale do São Francisco region, which encompasses locations in the states of Pernambuco and Bahia, is today the largest producer of table grapes in Brazil, also leading national exports. The chain is an important generator of foreign exchange and jobs in the region and has sought to combine its production with market trends for products with low environmental impact.

The Embrapa project thus appears as an ally. The coordinator of the work, researcher Diana Signor, explains that the initiative will contribute both to improving national inventories of greenhouse gas emissions and to defining low-carbon production systems for grapes.

“Currently, national inventories present estimated information for the fruit growing areas of the São Francisco Valley, as local measurements are not made. With the project, we will seek to obtain accurate information and provide updated data on the gases emitted in grape production, including carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide, in addition to proposing mitigating actions for the activity”, highlights Signor.

The researcher adds that, in the future, the results could also culminate in the generation of a low carbon emission seal, similar to what is already happening in Brazil for meat, milk and is in progress for soybeans.

Funded by CNPq, the project was approved at the end of 2022, with execution starting in February 2023 and expected to be completed in 2025. The activities involve evaluations in three production areas in the São Francisco Valley and the participation of a network of researchers from Embrapa and from partner institutions.