Fapcen impulsionaoNorte
Fundaçãodepesquisadedica-seàprospecçãode
novastecnologiasparaaregiãoNortedoPaíse
promovegrandeseventos, comoaAgrobalsas
A research foundation, created by farm-
ers with the intention to lend support to
Embrapa in the 1990s, located between
the North and Northeast cerrados in Bra-
zil, which conducts its objectives since its
foundation promoting sustainable de-
velopment. This is the Foundation for re-
search support of Export North corridor
(Fapcen). This context comprises the pro-
duction of soybean and associated crops
in the states of Maranhão, Piauí and Tocan-
tins, towards the northern export corridor.
Since the arrival of the migrants inter-
ested in seeding rice crops, in the 1970s,
our soils viewed as poor and unproductive
in the Brazilian northeastern regions, Fap-
cenhasbeenwatching inadifferentway the
cycles of the agricultural frontiers in search
of consolidation. The entity has to grapple
with thedisruptionof paradigms, inorder to
introduce innovative ideas that include soy-
bean cultivars adapted to lowaltitudes.
The institution equally observes the
plantation of seeds with quality (from2000
onward), and the hard work required by
soils of acid profile, the transformation of
these regions with the chances for a win-
ter crop to the carbon stocks through a
crop-livestock integrated system, inter-
esting scenarios and already consolidat-
ed (2010). These innovations are brought
about by Fapcen researchers in the events
the institution promotes, where the high-
light is Agrobalsas, in Maranhão, which, in
addition to the agribusiness fair, attracts 5
thousand schoolchildren who accompany
the proposed themes, live window shows
of crops and animals, courses, training ses-
sions, lectures with only one challenge, to
consolidate the sustainable status of these
productive cerrados, transferring technol-
ogy and awareness to all participants.
“We have never been inside our mis-
sion as we are now, in the promotion of
sustainability”, says Gisela Introvini, super-
intendent at Fapcen, who participates as
member of the Board of Directors at Round
Table for Responsible Soy (RTRS) and pre-
sides over the Brazil Task Force. These two
institutions comprise the big manufactur-
ers of pesticides, like Monsanto/Bayer, Du-
Fapcenpropels theNorth
Sílvio Ávila
116
