EMCAPA: technical solutions for sustainable development

The Enterprise for Farm Research (EMCAPA) is a mixed capital company under private ownership and is linked to the State Secretariat of Rural Development and Agriculture in the Brazilian state of Espirito Santo. Since its creation in 1973, it has worked on scientific advances and information and technology management for the improvement of living conditions, and increased agricultural production in the state. EMCAPA has undertaken research activities in the fields of coffee, fruit, organic agriculture, animal production, food production, agroforestry and natural resources, and is currently focussing on the following: - Coffee: cultivation of cloned varieties of Conilon coffee (early, medium and late); improved cultivation techniques of Conilon and Arabica coffee; biological control of coffee beans using wasps from Uganda and Togo; - Fruit: development of production techniques and post-harvest activities, linked to a better knowledge of consumer markets, especially regarding papaya, banana, pineapple and citrus fruits; - Organic agriculture: EMCAPA has undertaken research in this field since 1990, and several of its projects are described in the book 'Organic Agriculture : technologies for producing healthy food' published in Portuguese in 1998; - Animal production: improved efficiency in livestock production, and reducing the seasonal nature of fodder production, and research into the potential exploitation of water resources, in coastal and inland water fisheries; - Food crops: increased productivity, improved quality and cost reductions in cultivation of rice, forage and millet; - Agroforestry: inventory of existing or alternative (new) forest products which could be included in activities of small and medium-scale farms; - Natural resources: study of local eco-systems to support land planning and use. As well as its headquarters, EMCAPA has three research and development centres in different climatic zones of the state of Espirito Santo. Empresa Capixaba de Pesquisa Agropecuaria (EMCAPA) Caixa Postal 391 CEP 29001-970 ? Vitoria ? ES - Brazil Fax: + 55 27 222 3848 Email: emcapa02@npd.ufes.br Website: http://www.emcapa.es.gov.br http://www.agricta.org/Spore/spore79The Enterprise for Farm Research (EMCAPA) is a mixed capital company under private ownership and is linked to the State Secretariat of Rural Development and Agriculture in the Brazilian state of Espirito Santo. Since its creation in 1973, it has..