Vinicius Ahmar, Bioeconomy Manager at Instituto Arapyaú, in an interview about visiting açaí producers in the Amazon. Credit: Cauê Ito
On a Friday in May, Vinicius Ahmar, Bioeconomy Manager at Instituto Arapyaú, started the day by taking a boat in Belém (PA) towards Mocajuba, where he visited a cooperative of açaí producers in floodplain areas. Later, on that same trip, he visited a factory of a multinational company that sells açaí. For Vinicius, the ability to connect the two ends of a production chain is the motto of bioeconomy that Arapyaú promotes. “We understand how the producer works, what their logistical challenges are, we see how the factory operates, and we put these two actors in contact. From this, we can have more complex conversations about what is missing, whether it is public policy, more private investment, which partners can join to strengthen this chain,” he explains.
From cocoa farming to food systems, Arapyaú has intensified, in recent years, the work in favor of a sector that already moves US$4 trillion, according to estimates from the World Bioeconomy Forum. According to a study by the Henderson Institute (BHI) of the Boston Consulting Group, this number could increase to US$30 trillion by 2050. In an interview, Vinicius talks about the main achievements on this path and what lies ahead.
What are Arapyaú’s priorities on the bioeconomy agenda?
Our desire is to take successful experiences we had in cocoa to other chains. The CRA (Agricultural Receivables Credit), for example, was something that already existed, but no one had thought of it as a tool for small agroforestry producers. We went there, did it, and then other organizations replicated it. So, we want to add off-takers, buyers, and producers to connect more disconnected chains, promoting cooperatives, systematizing sectors. Arapyaú’s strength is to promote connections, so we also want to do more public communication and outreach so that others can do it independently of us. We will show: “Look, this worked here, this didn’t.” The goal is to encourage the application of what works so that everyone advances together in this agenda.
Two months ago, Arapyaú participated, with several partners, in the launch of two major initiatives in the cocoa chain: the Kawá Fund and Brazilian Cocoa. Why are they important?
Kawá, which will facilitate access to credit and technical assistance for small agroforestry producers, aggregates all the history and experience of Arapyaú in cocoa farming. Over the years, we have established and fostered many organizations that are now part of this initiative. We are starting to gather evidence of biodiversity and carbon credits for this ecosystem and making Kawá a hub of connection between producers, funders, industry, and philanthropies. Kawá is built with a methodology that aggregates resources, generates income in the field, keeps the forest standing, and potentially brings other services to the communities. If we can succeed with this experience in cocoa, we can adapt it according to the specificities of other chains. That would be success.
On the other hand, Brazilian Cocoa is a sectoral initiative to show the global market that our product is sustainable, complies with European Union legislation, and is traceable. It is precisely to prove that we produce in a way that preserves and generates income for those who need it most, with the future potential for restoring degraded areas. With this international positioning, the expectation is to attract more investment, with this inclusive and sustainable approach, for the expansion of cultivation areas in agroforestry systems.
You mentioned biodiversity credits. What are they and why are they on Arapyaú’s radar?
The discussion about biodiversity credits is still very embryonic worldwide, but it is an idea that is gaining strength as a way to direct private resources towards the conservation and restoration of nature. This credit is generated from positive results in the preservation or restoration of biological diversity in a specific area, within a period of time. We do not know very well how these credits will be measured or which methodology will be more widely adopted, but we have used our field experience in biodiversity and technical background to build partnerships that help us enter this global debate and test ways to monetize this biodiversity gain for producers.
One of these experiences was the generation of women’s empowerment credits, in the W+ Standard, to generate income for women workers in the field. What were the results?
Evidence shows that women not only manage properties better, but also invest the additional income for the benefit of their communities and families. This ability to generate positive impact is precisely what the W+ Standard, developed by the Women Organizing for Change in Agriculture and Natural Resource Management (WOCAN), seeks to value and monetize. First, we offer credit and technical assistance to improve productivity and increase income, which allows us to measure the specific impacts generated for women and, from that, issue empowerment credits. When they are sold, women receive additional income, creating a virtuous circle.
ERA Brazil, an impact developer that partnered with Arapyaú on this project, calculates that each credit represents a 10% improvement in the quality of life for a woman and is traded for US$20. It is an audited, verified investment, with proof. But there is still a lack of market. Debates on biodiversity and inclusion credits need to advance worldwide so that accepted methodologies are established and we can move forward with more initiatives like this.
In the past year, Arapyaú has consolidated its position in the global philanthropy scene and established international partnerships, such as the UK Pact, a consortium of around R$6.3 million, which will help build national policies for the bioeconomy. Why are these collaborations important?
We need these exchanges to understand the international environment that is being formed with new legislation on deforestation, for example, and how we can prepare to meet future demands in this agenda. It is necessary to understand the context and open doors for dialogue. In addition, part of the investments to leverage the bioeconomy in Brazil will depend on international private actors and philanthropy. We will need these resources to scale nature-based solutions. The country has the potential to do many things, as it has public policies, a robust banking system, and a certain legal certainty. Multilateral agreements can help us unlock obstacles in regenerative agriculture or forest restoration, for example. And, as always, Arapyaú is more than willing to build bridges to make this happen.
