EMBRAPA

The Brazilian Agro-pastoral Research Company, EMBRAPA, was set up on 26 April 1973. The company possesses modern laboratories and research stations and is organised into two departments and 37 Research Units , which are situated in very diverse ecological conditions all over Brazil. EMBRAPA's workforce numbers 9,500 including 2196 researchers (55% possessing a master's degree, and 35% doctorates). In addition to work directly related to agro-pastoral research, which is carried out at the Company's headquarters, research units and departments, EMBRAPA also co-ordinates the SNPA (National System for Agro-pastoral research). This is made up of both public and private institutions such as state research enterprises and universities. Among EMBRAPA's priorities are projects aimed at generating employment and productivity. Moreover, it works alongside its partners to: encourage the creation of small or micro agro-industries in Brazil, maximise the use of production resources, improve the quality and competitivity of agricultural industries, and develop the basis for a sustainable agro-pastoral industry by reducing regional imbalances. A number of other countries and scientific institutions have also benefited both from EMBRAPA's varied scientific skills and its institutional flexibility. Through agreements and contracts for technical co-operation, EMBRAPA has developed research partnerships, trained research and technical staff, established research and development institutions in developing countries and ex-changed or sold genetic materials. It has even registered a number of international patents. Among EMBRAPA's many partners are institutions such as the Rockefeller Foundation, JICA, GTZ, CIMMYT, CIRAD, ICRISAT and IFPRI. These partnerships extend to over 20 countries, including Argentina, South Africa, Cuba, Egypt, Japan, Australia, Nicaragua, Tunisia and a number of Portuguese-speaking African countries. Through the SNPA, EMBRAPA is developing programmes in a number of fields, specifically: natural resources; genetic resources; biotechnology; grains; fruit and horticulture; animal husbandry; raw materials; forestry and forest-farming techniques; rationalisation of subsistence and low-yield agriculture; post-harvest, processing and conservation of agropastoral products; environmental protection; agro-pastoral mechanisation; rural and regional development; support information for research and development projects; technical and financial co-operation with national research, management and institutional administration systems. l EMBRAPA Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária Assessoria de Comunicação Social ACS SAIN Parque Rural (Final da W3 Norte) Caixa Postal 04.0315 CEP 70770-901-Brasilia DF BRAZIL Tel: +55 61 348 44 33 Fax: +55 61 347 10 41The Brazilian Agro-pastoral Research Company, EMBRAPA, was set up on 26 April 1973. The company possesses modern laboratories and research stations and is organised into two departments and 37 Research Units , which are situated in very diverse..