Monthly Archives: June 2024

The Exhibition is organized by the GIB agenda and the Brazilian Forest Service 

Text: Press/ Idesam
Photo: Disclosure/ Idesam

Delegations participating in the G20 Working Groups will have the opportunity to visit the exhibition entitled 'Climate and Environmental Sustainability'. In addition to Idesam, the exhibiting organizations are MMA, ICMBio, SFB; Sebrae and InovaAmazonia and Origens, CBA, CIDE and Casa Ribeirinha. 

The exhibition is closed to guests and takes place at the Vasco Vasques Convention Center and is an integral part of the G20 meeting on Climate and Environmental Sustainability and the Bioeconomy Initiative meeting. The objective of the exhibition is to highlight local projects and initiatives that contribute in an innovative way to facing the environmental and climate challenges of the Amazon. 

Sociobiodiversity products in the G20. Photo: Disclosure/Idesam

The products presented are divided into three categories: technology, cosmetics and food. They are: stingless bee honey, from Amazon Bee; smart burger, smart meatballs and smart sausage, from the Amazon Smart Food; açaí energy drink, from Engenho Café de Açaí; seedlings of Amazonian species, from Ananas Biofactory; Amazonian fruit extract, functional blends, chestnut oil and blend oil, from Terramazonia; amazon foodlab, from Ekuia; Brazil nuts and cocoa beans, from Native Zeno; regenerative nutrition of the forest, Mahta; natural and healthy foods, from mazo maná; gluten-free, vegan and trans fat-free options, from manawara; condiments, Soul Brasil Cuisine; Amazon chocolate from Na'Kau; natural foods, maniac; and the Apuí Agroforestry Coffee, from the Agroforestry Amazon; in the food category. 

Exfoliating gel, cleansing foam, clays and clear oils, from Amazon Biozer; easy cleaning lines, Amakos; essential oils, Forest Charms; products made from the leather of Amazonian fish, Yara Couros; nanocosmetics, from Darvore; natural vegan cosmetics, from balance; cosmetics, Moma Natural; and vegetable and essential oils and certified wooden objects, from Inatu Amazonia; in the cosmetics category. 

Climate intelligence platform, ESG platform, agrosmart Nexus and BoosterAGRO app, from Agrosmart; biofertilizer – Biochar Fert Açaí NK+, from Biofert; commercialization of microwave technology, Innovatus; commercialization of pracaxi oil and artisanal presses, Innovate Management; marketing of fingerlings, Gigas Baby; agricultural system implementation service, Add+; bicycle parts with tucumã and açaí fibers, from AGJTech; açaí harvesting machine, from Agranus; and Amazonian ibogaine, from Hylaea; in the technology category.  

Photo: Disclosure/ Idesam

According to the program, the objective is to highlight practical and innovative solutions that inspire significant and sustainable changes, in addition to strengthening awareness about the importance of acting to protect our natural resources. 

G20 in Manaus 

Manaus will host, between June 17th and 19th, 2024, the meeting of the G20 Bioeconomy Initiative. This is the first G20 event held in the capital of Amazonas. In the same week, on June 19th and 21st, the meeting of the G20 Working Group on Climate and Environmental Sustainability takes place, both events held at the Vasco Vasques Convention Center. 

The G20, which brings together the largest economies in the world (19 countries, in addition to the African Union and the European Union), has been under the presidency of Brazil since December 1, 2023. This is the first time that the topic of bioeconomy has been discussed multilaterally, an initiative proposed by the Brazilian presidency at the G20. The meeting in Manaus focuses on the sustainable use of biodiversity for the bioeconomy, with national and international participants discussing strategies for the conservation, preservation and recovery of biodiversity. 

G20 Interfaith Forum 

In parallel, Manaus also hosts the G20 Interreligious Forum Meeting Cycle, addressing the theme 'Environment, Sustainable Development and Religious Engagement: Contributions to the G20'. André Vianna, technical director of Idesam, participates in the debate 'Creating value and prosperity and regenerating nature: religious dynamics and social, biological and economic factors'. This workshop discusses paths to prosperity with a focus on food security, climate justice and forest preservation, highlighting the role of religious beliefs and institutions in regenerating nature. 

The first session will be moderated by Romanna Remor, President of the Board of Directors of the Roble del Sur Foundation, and will feature panelists such as Patrícia Cota Gomes, Deputy Director of Imaflora; André Viana, Technical Director of Idesam; Ernesto Souza, agroforestry farmer residing in the Uatumã Sustainable Development Reserve (RDS); and Paulo Oliveira, Owner of Cocar&Co. 

Idesam's participation in the G20 meetings in Manaus highlights the importance of socio-biodiversity and bioeconomy on the global agenda, reinforcing the commitment to sustainable development and conservation of the Amazon. 

Photo: Zeno Nativo Disclosure

THE Native Zeno, a company accelerated and invested by AMAZ in 2024, completed the renovation and expansion of the nut and cocoa bean processing factory. Located in Acará, state of Pará, the renovated structure increases productivity by 50%.

The work was carried out with financial support from AMAZ: “We used just over 30% of the AMAZ contribution. This reform was already on the horizon, we took advantage of the resource to improve not only productivity, but the environment for employees, providing more quality and safety”, says Zeno Gemaque, founder of Zeno Nativo.

The renovation of the space took almost four months, a time offset by increased productivity from now on. Furthermore, Zeno highlights the reduction in the possibility of food contamination, as the environment has improved and has become even more suitable for handling chestnuts and almonds. And also the air conditioning of the entire area, which makes the factory's work process healthier for employees.

“In addition to all this, we also renovated and expanded our cocoa drying greenhouse, which now uses a new technique that has greatly improved the aesthetics of cocoa and the environment. These works make a big difference to our enterprise”, says Zeno.

Zeno Nativo works with the production of Brazil nuts and cocoa beans native to the Acará River region, contributing to the conservation of the Amazon. The chestnuts are recognized for their quality and are sold especially at the Ver-o-Peso market, in Belém, and elsewhere. Cocoa beans serve chocolate makers in Brazil and around the world. 

Photo: Rodrigo Duarte/courtesy MOMA

At the beginning of May, Vivian Chun, founder of MOMA – business accelerated and invested by AMAZ this year – visited the Uatumã Sustainable Development Reserve (RDS), in the state of Amazonas.

Accompanied by Julia Tatto, co-founder of Urucuna, and by Louise Lauschner, market access specialist in Idesam, Vivian, who uses raw materials from the Amazon and other Brazilian biomes in her products and practices fair trade – MOMA products have the Origens Brasil seal -, was in the RDS of Uatumã to meet the community that extracts and processes white rosin, produced by the species breu-branco-verdadeiro, a tree native to the Amazon that can reach up to 30 meters in height.

The fragrant resin has the appearance of a gray rock and solidifies at the base of the trunk, and its extraction and processing require a lot of time and artisanal work. 

Photo: Rodrigo Duarte/courtesy MOMA

One of the points highlighted by Vivian after the visit is related to fair trade:

“Since I started buying white rosin, in 2022, the value per liter has more than doubled. Of course we feel this impact, we have a complete cost plan for the final product for commercialization, but I would like to highlight that, being there with the community and seeing the manual work of extraction and processing, the current price still seems cheap to me. . First you need to enter the forest, which is a place that poses risks. Then there is the collection, transport to the plant, where the pitch is washed, and any and all wood residue is extracted, in each piece. The resin sticks, and this process takes time. After being washed, the rosin is crushed with a pestle, goes into the vats, and then goes through the distillation process, in short. Seeing this entire process, we value the raw material even more. There are many hands behind a liter of pitch.”

MOMA uses white rosin in five products: two deodorants, rosin and lavender shampoo and conditioner, and rosin and basil soap – the latter will soon no longer be produced, but will be replaced by another that will also contain the resin in its composition. .

The resin and vegetable oils and butters used in MOMA and Urucuna products have been purchased from Inatu Amazonia, a collective brand created by Idesam and extractive associations from the RDS of Uatumã within the scope of the Cidades Florestais project, financed by the Amazon Fund, to facilitate communication with the market. 

Idesam has worked directly at RDS since 2006, having been responsible for coordinating the preparation of the Management Plan and the implementation of its programs.

Louise Lauschner, market access specialist at Idesam, met Vivian a few years ago, during the entrepreneur's search for products with origin and traceability, and highlights that she has always shown concern about fair trade.

“This commitment is not only with Inatu Amazônia, but also with other suppliers in the Amazon and other biomes. It is rare to have a raw material buyer who goes to the extraction and processing site to meet the extractivists and understand where the product they receive comes from with traceability. This relationship is very interesting, because there is a real exchange between the production knowledge that the community has and that of the entrepreneur, the product industry. And from the beginning, Vivian demonstrated this interest in getting to know the extraction sites, she buys from other associations and wants to know the processes in more depth as well. This represents a benefit for her, because she gains even more knowledge to talk about the origin of the products.”

Photo: Rodrigo Duarte/courtesy MOMA

In the RDS of Uatumã, Vivian visited the communities of Boto, where the oil plant is located, and Bom Jesus do Angelim, where the group spent the night. She reinforces Louise's impression of the importance of exchange and connection: “Both I know their culture, which is different from mine, and they know what I do with the raw materials they extract with such care. How does this turn into a product. This generates greater connection, transparency, reinforcement of the partnership and appreciation of what they are doing. They realize that what they do generates value. And from my side, when I understand the context in which this raw material is extracted, their lives, the amount that is paid makes even more sense. This all reinforces that we are on the right path.”

Vivian took the MOMA products that have white rosin in their composition for the communities to learn about, and highlights that the reception was very good. Although he also took other products that do not have the resin in their composition, he noticed that the interest was much greater in those that included it as an ingredient. “It’s really beautiful to see how they connect with this raw material. It is truly something that they love and value, I could see a very genuine joy. And it was important to realize, through the testimony of Wanderley Cruz (manager of the Uatumã RDS Oil Plant), that our relationship makes a difference in their lives, because it guarantees a real source of income.”

Photo: Rodrigo Duarte/courtesy MOMA

“I think talking about this production chain makes more sense when I, Vivian, experienced it, felt it firsthand. It is a very important experience and information to translate to the public that uses MOMA products the origin of the raw materials and everything that is behind each one of them”, adds Vivian.