Another innovative process presented at the UNAMAZ/BioTec-Amazônia stand was the meat traceability system. Geneticist Artur Silva, Scientific Director of BioTec-Amazônia, explains that the Association acts as an intelligence hub, connecting scientific knowledge and the productive sector.
“Here at COP, BioTec-Amazônia is showcasing what we have in universities, the projects we develop, and what is being done in the region,” says Artur. He presented the traceability project based on European Community standards for the entry of products originating from tropical forests into the European market.
According to the researcher, several indicators point to the meat production process as the main cause of deforestation. "The opening of new agricultural frontiers occurs primarily for pasture creation. In this sense, meat has been considered the main culprit in deforested areas," he explains.
However, Artur points out that it is possible to produce meat sustainably through traceability. "By using mechanisms that the government already has, such as the Rural Environmental Registry (CAR), we can identify areas where the activity is permitted, avoiding unnecessary deforestation," he notes.
He emphasizes that the technology developed at the Federal University of Pará (UFPA), in partnership with international institutions, is transferred by BioTec-Amazônia to interested organizations and companies — in Brazil and abroad — acting as a bridge between scientific production and the market.
BioTec-Amazônia works to enable research and develop initiatives with funding sources. It currently has a network of 62 researchers and entrepreneurs, in addition to a strategic partnership with UNAMAZ. With its traceability system, it becomes possible to know the production conditions and origin of animal products, contributing to more sustainable and transparent practices.