São Paulo – To celebrate the United Arab Emirates national day, the country’s embassy donated 3,000 seedlings to the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa). The UAE National Day is celebrated on December 2 and, this year, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the institution chose to mark the date by planting Cerrado species. The planting also celebrated the 46th anniversary of Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology.
In a symbolic act, on November 23, the UAE ambassador to Brazil, Saleh Al Suwaidi, and Embrapa president, Celso Moretti, planted a seedling of yellow lapacho. “It’s a gift to the corporation and a way to encourage the conservation of the Cerrado biome,” Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology general chief Cléria Inglis (pictured above with the ambassador) was quoted as saying in a press release. The event also featured the embassy’s second secretary Saeed Alshehhi and military attaché coronel Tareq Alshamsi.
The plants donate are now part of the United Arab Emirates Late within the Sucupira Farm in Riacho Fundo II, Distrito Federal. The embassy reported that last Tuesdau (24), the ambassador and his team planted other seedlings in the farm. “We celebrated then the 49th anniversary of our foundation, where we saw the role and the planning of the founding father of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and his principles and values, including his legacy of fomenting and protecting the environment and increasing the UAE flora,” the ambassador was quoted as saying.
According to the embassy, “the exchange of expertise in bioeconomy, agrotechnology and animal protein chain is regarded as key for the UAE, as well as the food security policies.” Embrapa has strengthened relations of the Arab country through agreements with institution such as the UAE’s International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA), which aims at jointly developing salt-rich water utilization technologies. Embrapa has announced plans to open an office in the UAE, too.
Translated by Guilherme Miranda
