Lula highlights Embrapa’s importance to the success of Brazilian agriculture.

During the opening of the Brazil at the Table Fair, promoted by Embrapa in celebration of its 53rd anniversary, this Thursday (23), President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva highlighted the importance of agricultural research to add value to national agricultural products, especially considering the opening of new markets with the European Union and Mercosur. According to the president, the recent agreements signed will involve 750 million people and 22 trillion dollars and it is essential that the country is prepared to serve these audiences with quality. “Embrapa has a fundamental role in this regard. If in the last five decades, the science practiced by the Company was decisive in transforming Brazil's position on the world stage, from a food importer to a major global exporter, the way forward now is to invest in cutting-edge research to qualify agricultural assets. We have manpower, technology and expertise,” he stressed, says a note from "Agência Brasil". According to Lula, no other country has the agricultural capacity to offer the world what it needs. “We already have 540 products ready to negotiate with the Europeans, starting May 1st. It's a policy of complementarity, in which everyone wins. Their products are different from ours, which means we will buy from them and they from us. And the more sophisticated our products are, the more qualified and well-paid the labor of our producers will be,” he emphasized. The holding of the Brazil on the Table Fair, which runs until April 25th at Embrapa Cerrados in Planaltina, DF, was an idea of the president to celebrate 53 years of successful agriculture in Brazil. It is a way to show the population the wide genetic diversity that the country possesses. “I am concerned about how little we know about our own biodiversity and how much this can impact the improvement of our food security. Exporting is very good because it generates income, but Brazil needs to better understand its own identity,” he observed. Lula also defends the importance of valuing the domestic market. According to him, each state has its own unique food characteristics, and often one state doesn't know what the other produces. "What I want is diversification because this generates income, employment, opportunity, and an increase in the scale of national production," he said. The president of Embrapa, Silvia Massruhá, added that the "Brazil on the Table" Fair is a space designed and set up to show the public the diversity of food and the importance of the science behind this plurality. "Here we have more than 150 food products, 50 of which are native to Brazil. All this richness is the result of much effort from Embrapa and its partners, supported by public policies and investments in science, technology, and innovation," she stated. :: Expansion of international cooperation Massruhá also highlighted the expansion of Embrapa's cooperation in the international context, which is one of the current government's commitments. “We already had Embrapa offices in Europe and the United States, now we have one in Africa and we are working on consolidating others in Asia and Central America. Lula reinforced that the transfer of Embrapa technologies to the African continent is one of his government's priorities. According to the president, it is also crucial to invest in education. “The world has a 350-year debt to these African countries, and one way to reduce it is through the transfer of knowledge,” he said. In light of this, he proposed to the Minister of Education, Leonardo Barchini, who was also present at the event, to expand agreements between Brazilian and African universities. :: Agriculture that tastes good The Minister of Agrarian Development and Family Agriculture (MDA), Fernanda Machiaveli, emphasized that the partnership between Embrapa and the Ministry has resulted in significant benefits for family farming. “The Mais Alimentos Program alone has impacted a gain of more than R$ 6 billion in fruit for this sector.” "Beyond the financial gains, these numbers point to a healthier, more nutritious and diverse diet," stated the minister. The Minister of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa), André de Paula, highlighted the impressive numbers achieved by Brazilian agribusiness globally. "Of every eight dishes in the world, at least one involves the country," he celebrated. The Vice-President of the Republic, Geraldo Alckmin, emphasized the importance of Embrapa in this context. "Today, 47% of Brazilian rural properties are terrified. This is a direct result of the excellent science practiced in the country," he added.

This text was translated by machine from Brazilian Portuguese.