01 – Together and stronger: research affirms that the presence of bees in the açaí grove areas of the Amazon guarantees productivity up to 40% higher
02 - “Bees are essential for our work. Without them we have no food”, summarizes Jadir Seramucin, açaí producer
IGOR WILSON
From the editor’s office
Translated by Silvia Benchimol and Ewerton Branco (ET-Multi/UFPA)
A peculiar association of nature is once again gaining attention and has been transforming açaí production in the Amazon: the presence of bees in areas where açaí groves spread out over has guaranteed up to 40% more productivity - which demonstrates the strength of the standing forest economy and its sustainability, when attention to the richness of biodiversity relationships and the characteristics of the cycles of the Amazon biome are ensured.
Açaí is at the height of its worldwide popularity. There is no shortage of buyers and producers, who, year after year, have been challenged to seek techniques and alternatives to guarantee increasing harvest gains. In Pará – responsible for over 90% of Brazil's production – more than 1.5 million tons were produced in 2022 alone, estimate data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE).
In this context, researchers from Embrapa (Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation) have been playing an important role, by encouraging producers to combine bee keeping with planting and harvesting in açaí groves.
Meanwhile, greater attention is being given to stingless species, such as bees popularly known as 'canudo', 'borá' and 'uruçu' – which have been progressively disappearing from some regions of the Amazon, due to rampant deforestation. A joint study released last year by Embrapa, the Federal University of Pará (UFPA) and the Federal Rural University of the Amazon (UFRA) showed that more than 90% of the pollination work on açaí palm flowers is carried out by native bees, mainly by stingless species. Research shows that these bees adapt well to the unique inflorescence process of açaí trees, in which the male flowers open before the female flowers, which only appear about three weeks later. In addition to being more efficient in transporting pollen from one açaí tree to another – more than any of the other insects that help pollination – stingless bees can also increase the quantity and quality of fruits.
The development of studies that prove the efficiency of this partnership involving nature and the economy has also led açaí producers, beekeepers and meliponiculturists (those who raise native stingless bees, of the Melipona genus) in Pará to strengthen a communication network that implements partnerships in this regard. In addition to increasing the productivity of açaí palms, the production of honey and derivatives opens up new opportunities for generating income.
AMAZON OF BEES
A total of 215 of the 244 species of native social bees known to science in Brazil are found in the Legal Amazon circunscription. Emprapa researcher Daniel Santiago highlights that, for this reason, the creation of these bees – and in particular crops with stingless bees – can be widely developed to supplement income, when combined with other agricultural activities, especially in family farming.
“It is an inclusive, income-generating activity that contributes greatly to environmental conservation”, he points out. Santiago also remembers that, in addition to helping the açaí groves, bees improve agriculture, the environment and leave their honey. “In recent years, the activity has been growing in the states of Amazonas, Rondônia and Pará, due to the existence of native bees, specialists in the pollination of guaraná, coffee and açaí trees.”
An Embrapa project sponsored by CNPq is currently evaluating the effect of introducing bees and managing these pollinating insects on açaí plantations, both in dry land areas and also in floodplain areas (forest areas flooded by river and tide cycles). The studies also focus on different intensities of land use, aiming to increase fruit productivity rates.
“We studied this on several rural properties, with numerous partners throughout Pará who allow us to work in their areas”, detailed researcher Márcia Maués during a live broadcast with researchers on the topic. “We set up experiments to assess the importance of introducing bees and we also analyze the landscape and what native vegetation exists in these areas”.
On Jadir Seramucin's property, in the municipality of Acará, in the Northeast region of Pará, the discreet buzzing of ‘abelhas canudo’ [Scaptotrigona depilis] indicates the intense work of the tiny workers, taken to his property by Embrapa researchers. The açaí flower is on average less than one centimeter. Its spongy bunch holds hundreds of flowers. In Jadir's açaí grove, there are 50 thousand açaí trees to be pollinated. It represents a lot of work for the bees, who help the producer harvest – around six tons per year – sold in advance to an açaí chain in the capital of Pará.
“Bees are essential to our work. Everyone here knows how important they are. Without them we have no food”, summarizes the producer. Jadir Seramucin was born in the state of Paraná, but has lived in Pará for over 40 years. “What I see as new in recent years are the studies aimed at finding the species that best pollinates açaí. Here we have [hive] boxes with ‘abelhas canudo’ and also those with stingers. But we also have virgin forest nearby, and other species come. It’s like a complement”, he ponders.
Bees make açaí producers review routes and plans
The contact with bees has also changed the perception of Nazareno Alves - producer and owner of an açaí sales chain in the capital of Pará. When faced with the need to increase his production, Nazareno sought a partnership with Embrapa and carried out a series of training sessions to learn about the potential of bees. The result was an increase in production.
“I learned everything about bees from the researchers. I called people who only work with stingless bees to work. I started to realize the importance within an açaí area, where production increased a lot, by 20%”, says the producer, who also sells the so-called ‘açaí honey’, coming from bees that exclusively pollinate the Amazonian fruit. “Today I have around 40 boxes [with hives] spread over 50 hectares of land, and I intend to add around 30 more”, projects Alves.
“There are producers who had very low production and managed to increase their work with ‘abelha canudo’ by 20% to 40%. We set up the meliponary on his property and provided support. The rest is up to the bees, who do all the work”, summarizes beekeeper Joelma Nunes, president of a family farming cooperative focused on meliponiculture, in the municipality of Primavera, in the northeast of Pará.
HOLDING HANDS
Currently with 20 members, the cooperative has formed partnerships and helped several local açaí producers to increase their profits from the fruit. In return, meliponists also significantly increase honey production. The partnership has been successful. “Stingless bees do a better job of pollinating açaí and studies are proving this. We tested it by carrying out experiments on some plantations here and the results are positive”, says Joelma.
The partnership with beekeepers from Primavera cooperative was crucial for producer Maria José, who faced great difficulty with the pollination of açaí trees during a certain period. The producer even invested heavily in irrigation, thinking that this was the solution to the problem. Unsuccessful, she even thought about giving up açaí production. That's when she received help from the cooperative's meliponiculturists. A fundamental help.
“Pollination was not being well managed. We invested a lot in irrigation and were having high operational costs and little response. I always looked at the limp bunches. We decided to introduce meliponiculture in 2016 and 2017. We partnered with Joelma, taking care of the açaí chain, and she started coming in with swarms. As a result, things improved and production increased significantly. Today it is a new açaí grove. We earned about 40%”, says Maria José, who sells her production to the Metropolitan Region of Belém.
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Trump of wealth, bees are threatened by deforestation
Embrapa researchers assessed the impact of deforestation on the functional diversity of stingless bees, which affects the pollination process of açaí in floodplain and dry land areas, as in the case of Jadir’s and Nazareno’s plantations. The study found out that it is precisely the smaller bees – those which best pollinate açaí trees – that almost disappear as deforestation advances.
"The presence of the forest near the açaí trees is fundamental to maintaining the diversity of bees and the pollination service for effective açaí production. Everything that is around agricultural production, every ecosystem, the forests, capoeiras [secondary vegetation], everything is important for maintaining ecosystem processes that will help agriculture, such as pollination," explains researcher Márcia Maués. The Embrapa researcher refers to the recent post-doctoral study by researcher Alistair Campbell, who observed more than 10,000 açaí flowers for his research.
“In açaí crops where there is great diversity of pollinating insects, mainly bees, it is possible to reach 25% more fruits per bunch than in açaí crops that have low diversity. And this is related to the amount of forest around the açaí plantation”, reiterated Campbell, during a virtual meeting promoted by Márcia Maués, from Embrapa.
“Focusing on a single species is risky for the producer. It is better to work with the diversity present in nature. The most efficient strategy for açaí production is also the most sustainable one. And the most efficient strategy is to keep the forest standing”, highlights the researcher.
Applications and A.I. provide support to honey and açaí producers in rural areas
In addition to promoting bee farming, Embrapa is engaged in the development of technologies that can make the lives of honey and açaí producers easier. The research institution recently launched two platforms that are the result of investments in artificial intelligence. They bring together relevant and easily accessible information on management, disease prevention and strategies for optimizing production. The content, also available for cell phones, can be accessed even in areas without internet.
The Infobee and Manejatech-açaí platforms are virtual spaces that provide unprecedented services to producers. The initiatives are the result of a public-private partnership signed between Embrapa Amazônia Oriental (PA) and a technology company.
BEE MANAGEMENT
Infobee is a digital space that can be accessed by computer and mobile equipment, such as smartphones and tablets. The tool provides results from agricultural research in the areas of beekeeping and meliponiculture (the breeding of native stingless bees), in the form of publications, courses, videos, animations and web applications.
“The purpose of the solution is to assist the decision-making process of bee keepers through access to relevant information that can promote improvement in management or overcoming technological bottlenecks in the activity”, says systems analyst Michell Costa, from Embrapa Eastern Amazon.
One of the innovations of the Infobee platform is the service called “zapbee”, which answers questions from bee keepers and whoever is interested in the topic anytime and anywhere. The service is available on the web and uses Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) technology to interact with users. “We are not creating new technology. We are using a new technology to create a service and the intelligence chosen was ChatGPT”, explains Sebastião Júnior, CEO and owner of the company that partnered with Embrapa to develop the tool.
APP FOR AÇAI CROPS
The Manejatech-açaí application optimizes the stages of the Minimum Impact Management of Native Açaizais technology, developed by Embrapa and used by those ones who have productions from açaí trees in floodplain areas. This technology aims to provide step-by-step management process that guarantees the balance of species in flooded forests, seeking the sustainability of the activity. One of the great advantages of the Manejatech-açaí application is that it does not require the use of the internet to work - and it is available free of charge for the Android system.
“By integrating this technology into agricultural practice, we seek to create affordable and effective solutions for açaí producers. We are developing applications that offer personalized guidance, taking into account the specific characteristics of each plantation”, explains Michell Costa.
National workshop strengthens research network and unites producers
Pará – a state considered the birthplace of açaí – is already following a more innovative path and it is in search of greater sustainability for the strength of the açaí crop economy by combining tradition and modernity. With the support of research and technology institutions, producers intend not only to increase productivity, but also to contribute to the preservation of Amazon biodiversity. Thus, union between research, technology and sustainable practices is crucial to boost the region's economic and social development.
In this context, the relationships that guarantee greater productivity and prosperity to the honey and açaí chains are also highlighted in the event “VII Workshop Brasileiro de Biodiversidade e Biotecnologia da Amazônia” [7th Brazilian Workshop on Biodiversity and Biotechnology in the Amazon], which is taking place in Belém and should bring together more than two thousand participants - including researchers and entrepreneurs aimed at diverse production chains and also linked to innovation efforts. The event, with in-person and virtual participation, has panels for scientific work presentations as part of its most important activities. The first days of the event brought together participants between November 16th and 18th, in the Benedito Nunes auditorium, on UFPA's Guamá campus. The next sessions will take place from November 30th to December 2nd, at Hotel Sagres.
The goal of the workshop is to foster sustainable businesses in the region, opening space for academia, government, businesspeople and civil society to also discuss crucial topics, such as financing for biodiversity and biotechnology projects, as well as advances and challenges in the legal framework of innovation in Brazil.
“This event was carefully planned to achieve challenging objectives, in addition to disseminating the academic work carried out by a group of highly renowned researchers, such as the professors from the Postgraduate Program in Biodiversity and Biotechnology – Rede Bionorte, at the Federal University of Pará , and other partners”, explains Ph.D. Maria das Graças Ferraz Bezerra, president of the Workshop and researcher at the Instituto Tecnológico Vale Desenvolvimento Sustentável (ITVDS) and Rede Bionorte. Strengthening and integrating biodiversity and biotechnology networks in the North, Northeast and Central-West is one of the objectives of the meeting in Belém.
“The great challenge that is faced every day is to transform the patent banks of universities and research institutes into concrete results for society, which can be done through the generation of jobs created by sustainable technology-based businesses”, says the workshop president.
