TheBrazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa -Portuguese:Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária) is a state-ownedresearch corporation affiliated with the BrazilianMinistry of Agriculture. Since its inception on April 26, 1973,[1] it has been devoted to developing technologies, knowledge and technical-scientific information aimed at Brazilianagriculture, includinglivestock.[2]
Their mission is to "develop research, development and innovation solutions for the sustainability of agriculture, for the benefit of Brazilian society".
Embrapa's organizational structure is composed of 46 centers that can be divided into Research Units or Service Units, and of 17 Central Units that comprise the corporation's headquarters. Such research centers are distributed throughout the country in nearly all Brazilian states. The corporation currently employs over 9,790 people, of which 2,444 are researchers.
Embrapa is part of the National Agricultural Research System (SNPA -Sistema Nacional de Pesquisa Agropecuária), which also comprises federal and state public institutions, universities, private companies, and foundations, which cooperate to conduct research in different geographical areas and fields of knowledge.[3]
In terms of international cooperation, Embrapa has bilateral agreements for technical cooperation with a number of countries and institutions, and multilateral agreements with international organizations, especially concerning joint research activities.[4]
It also has established their Labex (Laboratórios Virtuais no Exterior or Virtual Laboratories Abroad) to develop research and prospect trends in the United States, France, United Kingdom, Netherlands and South Korea. There is an office inGhana to disseminate scientific and technological knowledge in African countries, with plans for future offices inPanama andVenezuela aimed atLatin America.
Embrapa units that work on basic themes that cut across several production chains, and support the other research centers.
Embrapa Agriculture Informatics,Campinas, SP. Research on information technology foragribusiness.
Embrapa Agrobiology,Seropédica, RJ. Research and development on soil biological processes (e.g. biologicalnitrogen fixation) and on agroecology.
Embrapa Agroenergy,Brasília, DF. Research and development on energy production (e.g. biodiesel,biogas, etc.) based on agricultural raw materials (oils, fats, vegetable biomass, forests).
Embrapa Environment,Jaguariúna, SP. Research on environmental management.
Embrapa Instrumentation,São Carlos, SP. Research onprecision agriculture, biotechnology, process automation, new materials, family farming and family agroindustry, the environment, and the quality of products and raw materials.
Embrapa Satellite Monitoring,Campinas, SP. Research ongeographical information systems, electronic networks, and on the obtention and processing of satellite images and of field data.
Embrapa Soils,Rio de Janeiro, RJ. Research onsoils and soil-environment interactions.
Embrapa Tropical Agroindustry,Fortaleza, CE. Research and development on the tropical fruit agroindustry (cropping, processing, storage).
Embrapa units that either work to perfect the agricultural production chains that are more relevant to a given region orbiome, or to catalog, classify, assess, and conserve local natural resources.
Embrapa Acre,Rio Branco, AC. Agroforestry systems, and onAcre state natural resources and production chains.
Embrapa Agrosilvopastoral,Sinop, MT. Agrosilvopastoral systems (integrated crop-livestock-forestry systems).
Embrapa Semi-Arid,Petrolina, PE. Brazilian semi-arid, especially for the Caatinga biome.
Embrapa South Livestock,Bagé, RS. Meat and dairy cattle and sheep.
Embrapa Southeast Livestock,São Carlos, SP. Beef and dairy cattle production chain andhorse breeding in the Brazilian Southeast.
Embrapa Temperate Agriculture,Pelotas, RS. Temperate climate regions of Brazil.
Embrapa Western Region Agriculture,Dourados, MS. Western Brazil.
Embrapa Western Amazon,Manaus, AM. Agroforestry systems, and on the natural resources and production chains in the Western portion of the Amazon Biome.
^J. I. CABRAL (2006).Livro Preto: sugestões para formação de um Sistema Nacional de Pesquisa Agropecuária. Embrapa Informação Tecnológica. p. 132.Livro Preto.
^M. Tourinho, H.H.Stagno (1992).Reflexoes sobre as possibilidades para a operacao da Embrapa como consultora. IICA-EMBRAPA. p. 3.GB.
