Brazilian Research Institute Partners With Government To Evaluate Bio-Agricultural Inputs

By Lynn L. Bergeson and Ligia Duarte Botelho, M.A.

On August 16, 2019, the Instituto de Pesquisa Econômica Aplicada (Ipea – Institute of Applied Economic Research) announced its partnership with the Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento (Mapa – Brazilian Agriculture, Livestock, and Supply Ministry) to develop indicators to evaluate the implementation of the Programa Nacional de Insumos para Agricultura Orgânica (Bioinsumos – National Input for Organic Agriculture Program). The objective is to organize the sector’s milestones to facilitate rural producers’ access to organic inputs and expand the use of biobased substances or organisms in farming. Three researchers were selected to act directly within Mapa to assist in the implementation of an analytical method to measure indicators. These measurable indicators are being developed by a Mapa group, and a detailed report on the research results will be released in November 2019.