Five Embrapa research units – Embrapa Agroenergia (DF), Embrapa Agroindústria Tropical (CE), Embrapa Milho e Sorgo (MG), Embrapa Recursos Genéticos e Biotecnologia (DF), and Embrapa Trigo (RS) – integrate capabilities to develop scientific solutions that expand the contribution of Brazilian agriculture to the decarbonization of the economy. The central challenge is to invest in research, development, and innovation (R&D&I) actions to transform biomass and agro-industrial waste into energy, renewable fuels, and bio-based inputs, with environmental gains and competitiveness. This institutional network strategy, structured and led by Embrapa Agroenergia, is part of the project "Thematic center for the development of integrated solutions aimed at the energy transition from agriculture" (Bioinova), which has received R$ 14 million in funding from the Financing Agency for Studies and Projects (Finep) to modernize the equipment park and strengthen Embrapa's infrastructure. The 36-month initiative aims to achieve 10 goals focused on generating technologies for the sustainable production of renewable energy and materials. According to the head of Research and Development at Embrapa Agroenergia, Bruno Laviola, Bioinova is strategic because it integrates the competencies of five units to address real challenges of the energy transition. In addition to the 10 technical goals, the project plans to modernize and expand the company's multi-user infrastructure. "With this, we will increase our capacity to generate evidence, qualify processes, and accelerate the delivery of solutions in areas such as sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), biohydrogen, biomethane, ethanol, and technologies associated with the development of raw materials and bio-inputs," he says. Laviola explains that Bioinova works with an integrated logic of circular economy in tropical biorefineries. The idea is to utilize waste from the biofuel chain itself to reduce emissions in the production of biomass developed in the project. “These biomasses, in turn, can generate new, more sustainable biofuels and bioproducts, seeking to reduce emissions and increase sustainability throughout the chain,” he adds. The project leader and Embrapa Agroenergia researcher, Guy de Capdeville, points out that, to achieve the goals, Bioinova will work on different fronts to expand raw materials and conversion routes and produce bio-inputs for nutrition, biostimulation, and pest control of energy interest. To this end, the project will encompass areas subject to abiotic stresses, drought, and salinity, and tools for sustainability, intelligence, and advanced biotechnology, in addition to the economic viability of all this.

Networking

Bioinova will mobilize a large part of the technical teams from the five Embrapa units involved. “We are expanding synergies and our potential to deliver solutions to the productive sector and society. Bioinova was conceived to accelerate integrated and applicable solutions, connecting the field to technological routes for biofuels and bioproducts. In addition to generating scientific and technological results, the project strengthens the infrastructure necessary to respond to the current and future challenges of the energy transition,” emphasizes Capdeville. Ten goals focusing on advanced biofuels, bio-inputs, and sustainability. Among the main areas foreseen in the project, the following stand out: ● Tropicalized canola to expand the sustainable supply of oil and support routes for biodiesel, renewable diesel, and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF); ● Three bio-inputs from agro-industrial waste, contributing to reduced emissions and greater productive efficiency; ● Semi-artificial microbiomes (microbiome engineering) and an agricultural process for sustainable biomass production for bioenergy in marginal areas subject to water and saline stress; ● Lignin-derived compound (from agro-industrial waste) for agricultural use; ● Processes for ethanol production from starchy raw materials, expanding alternatives and diversification; ● Processes for biohydrogen and biomethane production via biodigestion, aiming to increase energy availability for small and medium-sized farms; ● Process for obtaining hydrocarbons usable as agroforestry systems from oils, including canola and macauba; ● Environmental and economic sustainability assessment, inventories, and modeling to estimate the impacts of the technologies developed in the project; ● Implementation of a multifunctional platform with integrative biology, artificial intelligence, and biotechnologies to accelerate solutions in energy crops and microorganisms for bio-inputs. ● Obtaining low-emission biocidal extracts for nematode control in crops associated with bioenergy.

Equipment modernization and structural improvements.

Beyond technical deliverables, Bioinova foresees the acquisition and upgrading of strategic equipment to expand experimental and analytical capacity, support conversion pathways, and increase the robustness of performance and sustainability evidence. The infrastructure will be multi-user, expanding institutional reach and the capacity to meet the demands of internal projects, partnerships, and technical-scientific cooperation. To enable the work, Capdeville anticipates that the hiring of personnel is also among the project's plans. "At least 30 other professionals, from undergraduate and graduate programs and already graduated scientists, will be among those hired," he emphasizes. In addition to funding for the maintenance of existing infrastructure, resources will be made available for field research and for the purchase and maintenance of equipment. "We know how important it is to work with guarantees for both acquisition and maintenance over the three years of the project. This is a broad project that focuses not only on Embrapa's infrastructure but also on that of partners," the researcher highlights. Laviola endorses the idea that upgrading infrastructure is crucial for reducing development time, improving results, and accelerating connections with the productive sector.

Renewable energy, low carbon and competitiveness

The expectation is to expand Embrapa's portfolio of solutions in advanced biofuels (including agroforestry systems), biogas and biomethane, bio-inputs and new raw materials, in order to contribute to the decarbonization of agro-energy chains; diversify renewable sources and reduce supply risks; with greater competitiveness and predictability for investments in industrial routes, in addition to technical and scientific support for public policies and sectoral strategies. "Ultimately, we expect to deliver a consistent set of processes and technologies, with evidence of performance and sustainability evaluated through modeling of the economic and environmental impacts and life cycle of the technologies generated throughout the project. This information will allow us to support investment decisions, formulate public policies, improve production chains and expand the role of agriculture in the supply of renewable and low-carbon energy," concludes Capdeville. 

This text was translated by machine from Brazilian Portuguese.