FAPCEN supports the RTRS International Conference 2024 through its sponsorship
The Foundation for Research Support of the Northern Export Corridor (FAPCEN), a member of RTRS since 2012, is a Gold sponsor of the RTRS International Conference 2024, themed “Towards a Regenerative Transition.”
FAPCEN’s support for the international conference aims to provide visibility, credibility, and recognition for the work the foundation has been developing through RTRS. This is an opportunity to showcase the Cerrado on an international stage, highlighting the commitment of the Northern Export Corridor region, which includes the states of Maranhão, Tocantins, and Piauí in Brazil, to responsible agricultural practices and its capacity to meet global sustainability demands.
Furthermore, sponsoring the conference is a natural extension of the foundation’s efforts to promote innovation and sustainability in agriculture. By aligning its initiatives with a global network of producers, researchers, and organizations committed to sustainable agricultural practices, as gathered by RTRS in its conference, FAPCEN hopes to continually increase the number of certified rural properties, benefiting from the demand of the certified soy purchasing market.
Gisela Introvini, FAPCEN Superintendent and member of the RTRS Board of Directors states, “FAPCEN’s support for RTRS reflects its efforts to create and strengthen responsible production chains that not only increase the competitiveness of Brazilian soy in the international market but also ensure that social and environmental standards are met. This aligns with a vision of agriculture that respects environmental limits and promotes local and regional development. Since the introduction of soy certification in the Cerrado, FAPCEN has used its principles and standards as a powerful tool for the sustainable development of this region.”
In 2012, FAPCEN began certifying soy on rural properties in the northeastern Cerrado of Brazil, in areas considered poor and unproductive, known as agricultural frontiers. The introduction and cultivation of soy have spurred job creation and income generation, transforming soils, changing old habits and customs, and fostering a region with high productivity and a management model free from environmental and labor fines, uniting migrants from other Brazilian states with the native population. Currently, FAPCEN supports two RTRS-certified groups, representing a total of 14 producers. Together, they certify 162,619 hectares and 771,942 tons of certified soy, along with 162,619 hectares and 1,229,937 tons of certified corn.
Sustainable Production and Community Commitment
FAPCEN develops numerous social and environmental projects that demonstrate its commitment to sustainability. Among them, the following stand out:
- Courses and Training: Provides professional training aimed at improving individuals’ socioeconomic status and valuing local labor by integrating science and technology into the educational process.
- Paths of Tomorrow Project: Focused on underprivileged children (ages 5 to 16), it offers classes in socialization and musicality, promoting social and emotional development.
- Student to Student Project: Agricultural science students share knowledge with public school students and local producers, promoting education and knowledge exchange.
- Ecological Trail Project: Encourages young people to learn about native Cerrado species on the Sol Nascente Farm, in partnership with universities. Students catalog these species, contributing to research and preservation.
- Sowing and Planting Lives Project: Supports small farmers in crop management, promoting courses and events that disseminate technical information and agricultural practices, aiming to increase income and knowledge.
- Agro Cities and Agro Communities: Conducts technology showcases for food diversification and improved agricultural productivity, focusing on Crop-Livestock Integration and using legumes to improve soil quality.
- Agrobalsas: An annual event on the Sol Nascente Farm that brings together major brands and promotes discussions on sustainable development. It attracts over 180,000 people, creating investment opportunities and partnerships for agribusiness and tourism in Maranhão.
About FAPCEN
The Foundation for Research Support of the Northern Export Corridor “Irineu Alcides Bays” was established on April 27, 1993, as a non-profit entity created by entrepreneurs and rural producers to address their needs for agricultural research that promotes sustainable development in the Northern Export Corridor region, which includes the states of Maranhão, Tocantins, and Piauí in Brazil. FAPCEN seeks to balance food production with environmental responsibility and the inclusion of native populations in learning sustainable agricultural practices.
