Urban Agriculture on the Rise in Rio Thanks to “EMBRAPA Solos” Project

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA) is a success story within Brazil, mostly known for its work within the farming and livestock area. Brazil is a significant food exporter: out of four agribusiness products in the world, one is Brazilian.

The “EMBRAPA Solos (EMBRAPA Soils) project not only focuses on agriculture on a broader scale but also emphasizes the importance of promoting the growth of urban agriculture.

Head researcher Claudio Capeche, with over 22 years of experience in this field, shared EMBRAPA’s work with The Rio Times. He outlines the goals of their social projects: “The team of “EMBRAPA Solos” can show the relevance of soil for people in cities to lead a healthy lifestyle that is also good for the environment.”

Urban agriculture is on the rise in cities across the globe, looking at better uses for urban spaces — transforming unused areas from rooftop spaces to balconies to grow food, herbs, and growing flowers to promote pollination.

Capeche is devoted to strengthening the bond that unites urban and rural environments; he is an advocate of demonstrating the importance of sustainability and agricultural practices that ensure a better quality of life.

He has forged many partnerships within Rio’s favela communities. These include a variety of groups, such as colleges, kindergartens, communities, and NGOs.

Capeche, an advocate for championing the positives of growing food in urban spaces, showed The Rio Times with pride the compost that EMBRAPA provides to the communities; which are fertilized using natural methods without chemicals.

The EMBRAPA garden, holding a myriad of fruits, herbs, and vegetables that complement one another, grows without pesticides. Capeche assures they never get any attacks from pests: “The way plants work together creates a healthy growing environment where they can flourish.”

This year alone, Capache confirms: “We have produced approximately 400 liters of compost; we donate this compost to schools, needy communities, institutions that partner with “EMBRAPA Solos” to carry out environmental education actions with urban agriculture.”

The “EMBRAPA Solos” team goes to schools to stimulate the students’ interest in their natural environment. The organization highlights how science within nature is present in their surroundings, with demonstrations, and arts and crafts activities.

This year they have been to nine schools within Rio. The Team also hosts events for students: the last one was on April 15th, the national day of soil conservation, to over a hundred people, discussing the relevance of urban agriculture.

The students at Santo Inácio in the south zone of Rio went on an environmental trail, highlighting the different types of soils with signs at each part of the park after their workshop. Their work has had great effect: “With the interest aroused by the actions of “EMBRAPA & Escola” (EMBRAPA & School), these boys now explore the countryside, they want to know how things grow,“ says Marcus Vinicius Borges da S. Machado, pedagogical coordinator of Santo Inácio.

Students at the Escola Municipal Professora Didia Machado Fortes in Barra da Tijuca, after the workshops provided by the “EMBRAPA Solos” team, focused on how they can make high-quality soil to grow food. Now they use food waste from the school kitchen to turn their compost into high-quality soil.

The City Council of Rio de Janeiro has praised the EMBRAPA team’s work in Realengo in the West Zone of Rio. Capeche talks about the value of parent engagement: “The children seeing their parents engaged sparks their interest.” The Célia Alencar Municipal Nursery now has a project called “Green little hands”, using the seedings and compost provided by “EMBRAPA Solos”. The children grow basil, mint, citronella, cabbage, parsley, oregano, and lettuce.

Capeche and his team and have brought their work to the favela communities of Babilônia, Chapéu Mangueira, Rocinha, Santa Marta, and Vidigal. They not only teach how to create and maintain high-quality, healthy soil to grow food, but also that the soil can be used to produce natural paint. Residents have, in turn, gone on to paint their homes and pots using the techniques they have learned.

For the “EMBRAPA Solos” team, they see their work as integral to the environment, to the city, and the health of the people of Rio de Janeiro. Their aim is for people to live healthier and more sustainable lives. Soil quality in urban agriculture is a foundation for their work that helps educate many people.