Embrapa Soja and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) discuss soybean cultivation research projects

Embrapa Soja, together with the Chinese Academy of Sciences/Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), on March 20, promoted a Research, Development and Innovation (RD&I) Workshop on Sustainable Soybean Production Systems, at Embrapa Soja, in Londrina (PR). The Memorandum of Understanding between Embrapa and the Chinese enterprise, signed in 2020, will now enter the stage of discussing projects of mutual interest for technical cooperation in research, development and innovation. Initially, the activities should focus on actions in the field of biotechnology for soybean cultivation in the tropics.

However, the CEO of Embrapa Soja, Alexandre Nepomuceno, stresses that the projects can be expanded to other areas of knowledge as the partnership progresses and develops. “This partnership will allow the exchange of knowledge and even the exchange of visiting scientists between countries in order to develop joint projects for the cultivation of soybeans,” he says. “In this first meeting, the Chinese scientists got to know what we are looking for and also presented the research procedures they are developing so that we can assess common interests and thus the possibility of complementarity, and thus develop research together,” Nepomuceno confirms.

China is currently building a laboratory in the south of the country, focusing on soybean genes, and Which reveals the broad field that he has in this field. They are developing modern technologies, such as gene editing technologies and sequencing the soy genome. The partnership will be very important for the advancement of Brazilian research and therefore for the implementation of research actions in our country,” explains Nepomuceno.

The Chinese delegation that was at Embrapa Soja was composed of seven researchers from four Chinese scientific institutions and universities, specializing in soybean genetics (Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, CAS; Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, CAS; University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences). The Chinese scientists were welcomed by Alexandre Nepomuceno, Head of Embrapa Soja, by Adeney Bueno, Head of Research and Development, and by Carina Gomes Rufino, Head of Technology Transfer and Embrapa Soja researchers from various research fields.

Joint search – China is very interested in partnering with Brazil in the field of soybeans, since our country is the main supplier of grain and raw materials for the production of animal feed. About 80% of total Brazilian exports are destined for China, roughly 60 million tons of the 150 million tons of soybeans produced in the 2022/23 season. According to Wecai Yang, Director of the Institute of Genetics and Technological Development at CAS, the partnership unites efforts to produce more quality food, ensuring food security on the planet. “In addition, both Brazil and China have a strong scientific community that can share a lot of experience, develop technologies, and promote scientific progress faster and more efficiently, if they work together,” Yang affirms.

Technology partnerships – During the event, the Director of Science and Technology of the Development Institute of Londrina (CODL), Roberto Moreira, had the opportunity to present the innovation ecosystem of Londrina (PR). “We present how our environment is conducive to establishing partnerships, and we report on the city’s potential for research such as that signed with Embrapa, as well as our potential in other areas. We consider this type of contact very relevant, especially with China,” Moreira says. Three technology parks, two incubators, 10 governance sectors such as Agrovalley, more than 250 startups and nearly 1,600 IT companies.

The technical program included a presentation of Embrapa Soja’s Active Genplasm Bank, a collection of more than 65,000 soybean accessions (species) that preserve the genetic diversity of soybeans. Through this combination, it is possible to identify different sources of importance for the development of soybean cultivars, for example, cultivars with better health, with better oil content and more drought-resistant, for example. The presentation was presented by researchers Carlos Arrabal Arias and Marcelo Fernandez.

There was also a lecture related to research, development and innovation in soybean biotechnology and genetics. This topic was presented by researchers Lillian Henning and Francismar Guimarães. Another topic discussed at the workshop was related to the actions that have been implemented to enhance the decarbonization of the soybean production process, as well as the issue of biological inputs. These two topics were introduced by researcher Marco Antonio Nogueira.

Marco Antonio Nogueira presented the main results of biological nitrogen fixation, a technology that allows Brazil to save about R$38 billion, per crop, by dispensing with the use of nitrogen fertilizers.

During the workshop, the discussion on joint development between Brazilian and Chinese institutions to create a sustainable food innovation center was promoted.

Visit to other regions – After visiting Embrapa, the Chinese researchers will visit Cooperativa Coamo (03/21), in Campo Mourão (PR), Embrapa Agrosilvipastoril (03/23), in Sinop (MT) and a farm in Lucas do Rio Verde (MT) (03/ 24).