In the face of the climate emergency, the Amazon is at a crossroads. Between agricultural pressure, deforestation, and climate change, ecosystems and local communities are becoming increasingly vulnerable. Yet another path exists: the bioeconomy.
The idea, therefore, is to make the forest more profitable alive than destroyed.
What is the bioeconomy?
Faced with environmental and social challenges in the Amazon, the bioeconomy is emerging as a credible alternative to the intensive agricultural models responsible for deforestation. Supported by leading organizations such as Embrapa and the WWF, it is based on a fundamental principle: deriving value from natural resources while preserving ecosystems.
In practical terms, the bioeconomy involves sustainably using biological resources to generate economic value. In the Amazon, for example, this means implementing agroforestry systems, developing forest products such as açaí, and maintaining ecological balances.
Why is the bioeconomy essential in the Amazon?
This model directly opposes conventional extractive practices. While some activities involve clearing the forest to establish intensive crops such as soy destined for cattle farming, the bioeconomy proposes the opposite approach. It is based on the idea that the forest can become a sustainable source of income, provided it is preserved.
In this context, the economic development of açaí plays a decisive role. By generating regular income for producers, it limits the pressure to convert land into intensive agricultural areas. The forest thus becomes more profitable when it is kept standing than when it is destroyed, making this a powerful lever against deforestation.
How Nossa! applies the bioeconomy
Nossa!'s example concretely illustrates how the bioeconomy can be implemented across a supply chain. By structuring a supply chain around açaí, the company demonstrates that it is possible to combine economic performance, social impact, and biodiversity preservation.
A regenerative agricultural model
From an environmental perspective, more than 201 hectares are currently under regenerative management, according to protocols developed with Embrapa. This approach aims to preserve existing ecosystems while improving their resilience. It is accompanied by restoration initiatives, including the planting of 300 native trees to strengthen biodiversity and the structure of the plots.
For Nossa!, protecting the Amazon requires active biodiversity management based on scientific principles. To ensure that the açaí comes from genuinely sustainable areas, 82% of partner producers carry out a complete forest inventory in collaboration with our teams.
This approach is based on a precise methodology developed by Embrapa, built around a balance between production and biodiversity: 16 trees of diverse species for every 25 clumps of açaí on a 25 × 25 meter plot. When the density of açaí becomes too high, indicating a depleted system, forest species are replanted to restore a richer and more resilient ecosystem.
Creating local value
From an economic perspective, Nossa! purchased nearly 1,400 tonnes of açaí directly from its partner cooperatives in 2025, representing approximately 100,000 baskets. This injection of value into the local economy is accompanied by the expansion of sustainable practices, with a 78% increase in certified organic volumes and fair trade extended across all volumes.
A lever against deforestation
This model plays a decisive role in the fight against deforestation. By providing stable and profitable economic opportunities, it greatly reduces producers' incentive to sell their land or convert it to intensive uses such as soy cultivation or cattle farming. The forest thus becomes more profitable when preserved than when destroyed.
On-the-ground support from Nossa!
The impact also relies on structured human support. More than half of our Brazilian CSR team's time is devoted to fieldwork. This time spent in the field makes it possible to provide producers with regular follow-up. To go further, in 2025, 52 people received training in essential topics such as financial management, sustainable agriculture, and workplace safety. In addition, the installation of 12 stingless bee hives helps improve pollination, increase yields, and generate additional income.
To learn more and discover all the results, indicators, and actions carried out in the field, Nossa!'s 2025 impact report transparently details the commitments and progress made across the entire supply chain.
The bioeconomy at the heart of global climate challenges
The bioeconomy is gradually emerging as a central lever in the fight against climate change. At COP30 in 2025, the bioeconomy was highlighted as a concrete solution for reconciling economic and social development with biodiversity preservation.
In this context, Nossa! actively participated in discussions to present an on-the-ground perspective and highlight a supply-chain model based on regeneration. The objective was to make producers' voices heard and show that the bioeconomy is not a theoretical concept, but a reality already taking shape in the Amazon.
This contribution was notably based on concrete testimonies. As Gustavo, an açaí producer from the APREMARMU association, explains:
“For us, the bioeconomy is not just a concept; it is a matter of economic survival. I spoke about our transition to agroforestry: by combining açaí with cacao, cassava, and forest species, we lower the temperature of the plot and retain moisture.”
The projects presented in this context show that integrated approaches combining agroforestry, scientific research, and local expertise can strengthen the resilience of agricultural systems. The example of beekeeping integrated with açaí cultivation illustrates this dynamic. By promoting pollination, it improves yields while supporting biodiversity and diversifying communities' sources of income.
These initiatives rely on close cooperation between companies, researchers, and producers. They demonstrate that the transition to sustainable models can only happen through a collective approach rooted in local territories and led by the people who depend on the forest for their livelihoods.
What to remember about the bioeconomy
The application of the bioeconomy to açaí demonstrates that it is possible to profoundly transform production models. It makes it possible to preserve the Amazon rainforest while creating sustainable jobs and addressing climate challenges.
Nossa!'s results show that an alternative model is not only viable but already in action. They provide a concrete illustration of how a supply chain can evolve toward greater transparency, sustainability, and measurable impact.
To understand in detail the actions implemented and the results achieved in 2025, the impact report is a key resource, offering a comprehensive, data-driven view of this transition.