Brazil: Brazil on Thursday expressed its willingness to support Angola in the production of conventional and transgenic soybeans, within the proper legal framework, as part of the cooperation between the two countries. The intention was expressed during a visit by the Angolan multisectoral delegation, led by the Secretary of State for International Cooperation and Angolan Communities, Domingos Cust³dio Vieira Lopes, to the Embrapa Cerrados research center, a unit of the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA), located near Braslia, Brazil.
According to Angola Press News Agency, Angola currently has an estimated soybean production area of between 20,000 and 60,000 hectares. During the visit, the Angolan delegation was received by the institution's officials, including Roberto Guimares, F¡bio Reis, and Lorivaldo Vilela, who presented the main research and technological innovation programs developed by EMBRAPA.
Brazil stands out as the world's largest exporter of soybeans, and according to EMBRAPA experts, the country has the capacity to produce around 170 million tons of the grain, with 80% of Brazilian production being exported to China. Officials highlighted that the technologies developed by the institution currently contribute to ensuring food for approximately 700 million people worldwide, in addition to supporting production chains that allow Brazil to export agricultural products to more than 200 countries.
Another point of interest presented by the Angolan delegation was the Brazilian experience in soil biology and management, an area considered strategic for increasing agricultural productivity, according to the document. EMBRAPA indicated that it has 33 specialized laboratories, responsible for more than 60,000 soil analyses, and showed itself available to collaborate in the local production of fertilizers and in the technical training of Angolan personnel.
The delegation also learned about wheat production techniques, the fourth most cultivated grain in Brazil, whose production forecast for this year is around 6.9 million tons, integrating a national agricultural harvest estimated at 350 million tons annually. Another highlight was the Brazilian model of integrated agricultural production systems, which combines soil, plants, and livestock, considered a benchmark in sustainability. Brazil has approximately 160 million hectares of pastureland.
The visit, which takes place from the 10th to the 12th of this month, is part of ongoing work between Angola and Brazil to define the institutional and operational bases of the Brazil-Angola Agricultural Productive Investment.
