Family farming to receive BRL 60M for production of biosupplies
Brazil’s healthy food production will receive BRL 60 million in non-reimbursable funds earmarked for family farming cooperatives from development bank BNDES. The funds are intended for the production and “multiplication of accessible and replicable biosupplies.”
Made from microorganisms, plant waste, and organic matter, biosupplies play a key role in soil fertilization and promoting sustainable agriculture. They also act as pest predators and promote the growth and health of agricultural, animal, aquaculture, and forestry systems. The initiative has the technical support of the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa).
The plan aims to boost the production of biosupplies in industrial or semi-industrial facilities, enabling the “technological transition to the use of bioproducts integrated with agricultural ecosystems in the production of healthy foods.” To this end, the bank will issue a public call for proposals, with priority given to the Brazilian North and Northeast.
“[The initiative] fulfills two historic commitments made by the Lula administration – in addition to contributing to increased production of healthy foods, ensuring food and nutritional security and sovereignty, it bolsters income generation for family farming cooperatives by expanding access to biosupplies with lower costs and higher productivity,” said BNDES President Aloizio Mercadante.
*With information from BNDES.
