São Paulo – Brazilian and African agriculture should have a space for the exchange of information, for cooperation and even for business. And for this purpose, nobody will need to fly or move from their bases. The Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) and the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (Fara) are preparing a virtual platform, called Inova Africa, through which the governments, research institutes and companies connected to agribusiness in both regions should talk, share research and information regarding markets, create forums for discussion and do business.
This statement was made by José Luís Bellini Leite, a member of Embrapa-Africa, in Ghana, who is also the project coordinator at the unit. According to the researcher, who is a master in Management of Technological Innovation and a doctor in Economics, the talks regarding the initiative began in May this year, after the Embrapa was sought by the Fara. Fara is also headquartered in Ghana and brings together research institutions throughout Africa. It operates, according to the Brazilian, by bringing the research and productive sectors together. The objective is to make the results of the research more effective for the society.
According to Bellini, the idea is to involve all three instances – governments, researchers and the private initiative – and to generate a virtual meeting area. "It helps save in logistics regarding travels here (Africa) and there," said the economist, adding that the measure makes contact agile and reduces costs. Each party involved will have a kind of access. Some parts of the platform will be restricted according to the user. The research institutes, for example, should make available their information about studies and papers. "The 42 Embrapa centres will be invited to select information that may be of interest for Africa," he said.
Governments may also be inserted in the information platform with information regarding financing lines, for example. And companies and professionals should have a site on which to make available their products and services. There should also be registration on the site for clients interested in products and services. All users in the space will be registered after analysis. There should be a possibility, within the virtual space, for creation of networks to discuss specific matters. The idea is for the Embrapa and the Fara each to make available one or two professionals to take care of the platform.
Bellini believes that the platform should be ready by the end of the year. It should not generate great cost, according to him. Embrapa has already sought consultancy from entrepreneurs at Peabirus, a social media platform, and is negotiating the execution of the technical part of the project for free. The Embrapa economist explains that, apart from the virtual platform, the joint project with the Fara should also have a physical area. The idea is to promote, in different areas of Africa, fairs or forums in which Brazilian companies and research institutes in the agricultural area may show their products and services.
*Translated by Mark Ament
