The Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM) and Reservas Votorantim (RV), a company dedicated to land management and developing Votorantim’s green economy projects, have signed an agreement to partner in bioprospecting related to herbivores and micro-organisms in the Atlantic Forest that includes bacteria, yeasts and fungi. This partnership initially focuses on carrying out research in Legado das Águas (LA), the country’s largest private reserve of Atlantic Forest that spans 31,000 hectares in the inland region of São Paulo state; in the future, it may extend to two additional areas managed by RV in the Cerrado and Pantanal biomes.
The initiative is part of a larger project by CNPEM to genetically map the microfauna of Brazilian biomes with biotech potential. The resulting data will soon be available to researchers: scientists will be able to consult genomes recovered from environmental samples by species, genes with predicted functions and associated metabolic pathways. This will contribute not only to environmental conservation in the legal reserve but also the development of biofuels, biochemicals, bioinputs, medications and other products that can benefit human health, the environment and the economy.
“Brazil is home to some of the greatest biodiversity on the planet across its six large biomes, but the vast majority of microbial life that exists is unknown, and current state-of-the-art techniques make it possible to recover this information with high quality and in detail,” explains Mário Tyago Murakami, a researcher in the Brazilian Biorenewables National Laboratory (LNBR) at CNPEM who was part of the Center’s first expedition to the reserve. “With the data from gene mapping we can use CNPEM’s industrial biotechnology platform to research new biotech solutions inspired by nature that could make it possible to produce clean energy, for example, mitigate the use of agricultural chemicals or develop medications for diseases like cancer,” he notes.
The agreement between CNPEM and Reservas Votorantim represents an advance in studies on the Atlantic Forest. The combined efforts to genetically map Brazil’s biomes not only expands scientific knowledge but also leads to new discoveries. “We believe that combining scientific research with business in the green economy is key to strengthening protection for forests in Brazil and around the world. A standing forest is an opportunity, and Legado das Águas is proof. Our economic activities range from producing plants, fostering opportunities involving biodiversity and generating carbon credits, demonstrating that nature-based solutions are the path to sustainable development,” comments David Canassa, Director of Reservas Votorantim.
For CNPEM Director General Antonio José Roque, the project generates important knowledge to support the bioeconomy: “Data from the genetics of Brazil’s biodiversity can stimulate research in agriculture, industrial biotechnology, health, energy and the environment. Science is central for positioning Brazil on the cutting edge of sustainable development and the ecological transformation that will be needed for the future.”
The first expedition went to Legado das Águas to collect fungus specimens for gene sequencing in early July, and identified more than 20 types of fungi on a single trail; a second expedition is planned for November. Along with fungi, the first phase of the partnership involves studying the microbiota of Atlantic Forest species like capybaras, tapirs, and the southern muriqui, an endangered herbivorous monkey. CNPEM also has an agreement with the National Institute for Amazonian Research (INPA) for bioprospecting of herbivores and micro-organisms in that biome.
About CNPEM
CNPEM is home to a state-of-the-art, multi-user and multidisciplinary scientific environment with activities within different fronts of the Brazilian National System for Science, Technology and Innovation. A social organization overseen by the MCTI, CNPEM is driven by research that impacts the areas of health, energy, renewable materials, and sustainability. It is responsible for Sirius, the largest assembly of scientific equipment constructed in the country, and is currently developing Project Orion, a laboratory complex for advanced pathogen research. Highly specialized science and engineering teams, sophisticated infrastructure open to the scientific community, strategic lines of investigation, innovative projects involving the productive sector, and training for researchers and students are the pillars of this institution that is unique in Brazil and able to serve as a bridge between knowledge and innovation.
About Reservas Votorantim
Reservas Votorantim is a land management company within the Votorantim S.A portfolio that carries out green economy projects focusing on nature-based solutions. The company manages approximately 130,000 hectares where it conducts sustainable business centered around the concept of multiple land uses, working in segments like carbon credits, legal reserves, and biodiversity. Founded in 2015 and launched on the market in 2022, Reservas Votorantim focuses on generating value for standing forests, proving it is possible to combine conservation and generation of revenues with ESG impacts. Learn more at www.reservasvotorantim.com.br
