Through the project “Rescuing the knowledge and biodiversity of the Amazon,” small family farmers linked to ADM’s palm production in the state of Pará received guidance on environmental legislation, ecological restoration, and ecosystem services that generate benefits for the agricultural production of their properties.

Initiated in January 2016, the project titled Rescuing the knowledge and biodiversity of the Amazon is a biodiversity conservation and environmental adaptation initiative in small rural properties, developed in partnership by the Society for Wildlife Research and Environmental Education (SPVS) and Archer Daniels Midland (ADM).

SPVS developed a biodiversity management method for rural properties that is economically viable and compatible with agricultural production and the reality of the farmer. The viability of this method was tested over 40 months on properties in the municipality of Paula Freitas, in the south-central region of Paraná, and can be replicated to the local reality of other municipalities, especially in regions with a high concentration of small family farming owners. Among the participating companies, ADM has already conducted training in partnership with Copérdia in the state of Santa Catarina and since early 2018 has been promoting support for biodiversity conservation in small family farming properties producing palm oil in the state of Pará.

With this aim, ADM extension technicians and local farmers were trained on practical biodiversity management guidelines on cooperative properties. Biodiversity management consists of techniques that improve the conditions of natural areas, enhancing the services that nature can provide for agriculture. Biodiversity management, in addition to promoting the conservation and recovery of natural areas, can help reduce production costs and increase agricultural productivity by enhancing the natural processes that assist agriculture.