It was an early morning as we made our way to Embrapa, located in Planaltina. Embrapa is a research center dedicated to improving agricultural practices to increase production, efficiency, and sustainability. When we first arrived, Dr. Ieda Mendes educated us about the history of Embrapa and the role it played in transforming the Cerrados region of Brazil into productive, workable lands. She explained that nowadays one of Embrapa’s largest goals is to educate farmers on a method of integrated agriculture, involving harvests of crops, trees, and livestock all on the same land within the year. Many farmers have begun to use this method, but they still do extension work to publicize their research to the general public while also working with private companies, cooperatives, and governmental bodies.

After talking with Dr. Mendes, we were able to head out to the fields to see active research projects being done on soybeans and sugarcane. Dr. Martinhao, who has basically been with Embrapa since its founding in 1975, has been monitoring these projects for upwards of 15 years. These studies had to do with the importance of adding phosphorus and gypsum to the soil, and the radically different result if it wasn’t applied. The studies revealed that gypsum can be applied to the top of the soil just once, then reapplied in 15 years! Phosphorus on the other hand, needs to be reapplied each year.

Lastly, we traveled to an integrated agricultural system to meet with Dr. Lourival Vilela, who explained their current research involving planting crops among eucalyptus trees along with a grass cover crop, so that by the time the crops were harvested, the grass would be ready to be used as pasture. It was amazing that the huge eucalyptus trees we saw were grown in six years! Unfortunately, there isn’t much demand for eucalyptus right now, but the whole area still served as a great example of how this integrated system would work. Currently it is being used as pasture, so there were a few Nelore curiously watching us as we were being educated.

We thanked everyone for hosting us that morning, then we were able to have a fabulous lunch there at Embrapa before leaving for our next visit. I feel it is important to say that this was the day we saw our first wild toucan! It’s probably so common, but we were all amazed.

Next we went to IICA. This institution is heavily involved in the education of young people around the world to become future leaders in agriculture. They also manage a lot of agricultural projects in different ministries in the states. Unlike Embrapa, IICA does not do research. Their basic function is to serve as a hub of information as they collect it from many countries and then go about distributing it primarily though the education of youth and managing projects. Along with this explanation of what Embrapa does, we received a small presentation about the review of biomes in Brazil as well as the different types of agriculture (organic, natural, urban, etc.)

It wasn’t long after the presentation and some further discussion that we ventured outside into the urban garden. They had banana trees, a lime tree, an avocado tree, an herb garden, and some other fruit trees none of us had ever heard of or seen before. I never realized how many fruits, vegetables, and food products I was oblivious to before coming on this trip!

There rest of the evening we had time to relax and catch up on a few things, as well as go out for an amazing dinner! Did you know that with some meals they bring out a bottle of butter you can add to your food? I think we should bring that to the States. Salt, pepper, and butter at every table. Anyways, today was a great day to learn about research and extension within Brazil! The adventure continues!