Chronicle of our visit to IABS in Brazil
Chronicle of our visit to IABS in Brazil
Chronicle of our visit to IABS in Brazil
Brazil, in addition to being a country of breathtaking landscapes and dazzling biodiversity, is also a land full of social and environmental challenges that demand creative and collaborative solutions. With that in mind, we traveled to visit the Instituto Brasileiro de Desenvolvimento e Sustentabilidade (IABS), a nonprofit organization with an innovative approach that works alongside local communities to transform realities.
IABS focuses on developing projects and programs aimed at social well-being, sustainable development, and reducing inequalities. Its work seeks to improve the quality of life in communities, always integrating social, economic, and environmental aspects. The organization addresses topics such as social aquaculture and responsible fishing; environment and protected areas; low-carbon agriculture; education for sustainability; resilience in semi-arid regions; productive chains of sociobiodiversity; and circular socioeconomy.
During our stay, which lasted several weeks, we had the opportunity to visit some of IABS’s projects and participate in enriching meetings and work sessions. It was a profound exchange experience, where we witnessed how collaborative efforts and commitments can generate tangible impacts in places as diverse as the Mundaú Lagoon in Maceió or the lands of the Paiter Suruí community in the Amazon.
FIRST STOP: Maceió (Alagoas)
The first stage of our journey took us to Maceió, the capital of the state of Alagoas, in northeastern Brazil. Alongside the local team, we visited two IABS projects aimed at fostering employment in local communities and improving the region’s environmental quality.
The first initiative we explored was Projeto Sururu: Conchas que Transformam, which seeks to improve the quality of life for shellfish gatherers and other residents, generate income, and reduce the environmental impact caused by the abandonment of sururu shells (a mollusk native to northeastern Brazil and considered an intangible cultural heritage of Alagoas) in the streets. The project transforms these shells into innovative, value-added products. To better understand the process, we visited the Mundaú Lagoon, where we observed every stage of sururu harvesting, from mollusk collection to processing. Finally, we stopped by Entreposto do Sururu, a small manufacturing unit of IABS’s Social Enterprise located on the lagoon’s shores, where the shells are repurposed into raw materials for products like the Mundaú cobogó and wall coverings.
After learning about Projeto Sururu, we visited the Ostras e Comunidades project, which integrates community-based oyster farming into value chains, focusing on adding value to products and generating jobs and income for the involved communities. In collaboration with local associations, this project promotes sustainable production practices, creating employment while ensuring product quality. During our visit, we toured the community of Barreiras de Coruripe, the oyster farm areas, the Oyster Purification Center, and the Secretariat of Industry, Commerce, and Solidarity Economy, which helps connect producers with consumers.
SECOND STOP: Rondônia (Amazonas)
Our second destination was Rondônia, a state located in the Amazon region, at the heart of the continent. There, we visited the Projeto Rural Sustentável – Amazônia, an initiative spanning the states of Amazonas, Pará, and Rondônia, aimed at mitigating greenhouse gas emissions in this biome. To achieve this goal, the project promotes solutions by strengthening six sustainable agro-extractive value chains, from cultivation to commercialization. These include pirarucu fish and Brazil nuts in Amazonas, açaí and cacao in Pará, and round fish species and coffee in Rondônia.
Throughout the day, we explored the different stages of the coffee and Brazil nut production chains. Our visit began at the Yabnaby space of the Paiter Suruí people, where we were warmly welcomed by the community. They shared their food and stories with us, and we had the chance to taste the coffee they produce as well as the round fish species. It was a day of deep learning, where we not only gained insights into the production process but also connected with the rich worldview of the Paiter Suruí people.
The journey continued with a visit to the GapEy community and the headquarters of the Coopaiter cooperative in Cacoal (Rondônia). At the end of our stay in Rondônia, we traveled to Café da Luz, a family-run farm that has become a benchmark for sustainable Amazonian robusta coffee production.
THIRD STOP: Brasilia (DF)
Our final destination was Brasília, where IABS has its main headquarters. Over several days, we met with key departments of the institute, including administration, legal, and communications, among others. Each meeting provided us with the opportunity to gain a detailed understanding of the institute’s operations and strategies, resulting in valuable insights for our own organization.
We also had the chance to be there during a special moment on the IABS agenda: its Integration Week. This annual event brings together everyone involved in the organization to share and celebrate the achievements of each project—an experience that enriched our visit even further.
This journey has not only been a profound learning experience for the entire Atelier itd team but also an opportunity to strengthen our ties with IABS. Through this collaboration, we have deepened our partnership and laid the foundation for future joint projects.
Brazil, in addition to being a country of breathtaking landscapes and dazzling biodiversity, is also a land full of social and environmental challenges that demand creative and collaborative solutions. With that in mind, we traveled to visit the Instituto Brasileiro de Desenvolvimento e Sustentabilidade (IABS), a nonprofit organization with an innovative approach that works alongside local communities to transform realities.
IABS focuses on developing projects and programs aimed at social well-being, sustainable development, and reducing inequalities. Its work seeks to improve the quality of life in communities, always integrating social, economic, and environmental aspects. The organization addresses topics such as social aquaculture and responsible fishing; environment and protected areas; low-carbon agriculture; education for sustainability; resilience in semi-arid regions; productive chains of sociobiodiversity; and circular socioeconomy.
During our stay, which lasted several weeks, we had the opportunity to visit some of IABS’s projects and participate in enriching meetings and work sessions. It was a profound exchange experience, where we witnessed how collaborative efforts and commitments can generate tangible impacts in places as diverse as the Mundaú Lagoon in Maceió or the lands of the Paiter Suruí community in the Amazon.
Brazil, in addition to being a country of breathtaking landscapes and dazzling biodiversity, is also a land full of social and environmental challenges that demand creative and collaborative solutions. With that in mind, we traveled to visit the Instituto Brasileiro de Desenvolvimento e Sustentabilidade (IABS), a nonprofit organization with an innovative approach that works alongside local communities to transform realities.
IABS focuses on developing projects and programs aimed at social well-being, sustainable development, and reducing inequalities. Its work seeks to improve the quality of life in communities, always integrating social, economic, and environmental aspects. The organization addresses topics such as social aquaculture and responsible fishing; environment and protected areas; low-carbon agriculture; education for sustainability; resilience in semi-arid regions; productive chains of sociobiodiversity; and circular socioeconomy.
During our stay, which lasted several weeks, we had the opportunity to visit some of IABS’s projects and participate in enriching meetings and work sessions. It was a profound exchange experience, where we witnessed how collaborative efforts and commitments can generate tangible impacts in places as diverse as the Mundaú Lagoon in Maceió or the lands of the Paiter Suruí community in the Amazon.
Second stop: Rondônia (Amazonas)
Our second destination was Rondônia, a state located in the Amazon region, at the heart of the continent. There, we visited the Projeto Rural Sustentável – Amazônia, an initiative spanning the states of Amazonas, Pará, and Rondônia, aimed at mitigating greenhouse gas emissions in this biome. To achieve this goal, the project promotes solutions by strengthening six sustainable agro-extractive value chains, from cultivation to commercialization. These include pirarucu fish and Brazil nuts in Amazonas, açaí and cacao in Pará, and round fish species and coffee in Rondônia.
Throughout the day, we explored the different stages of the coffee and Brazil nut production chains. Our visit began at the Yabnaby space of the Paiter Suruí people, where we were warmly welcomed by the community. They shared their food and stories with us, and we had the chance to taste the coffee they produce as well as the round fish species. It was a day of deep learning, where we not only gained insights into the production process but also connected with the rich worldview of the Paiter Suruí people.
The journey continued with a visit to the GapEy community and the headquarters of the Coopaiter cooperative in Cacoal (Rondônia). At the end of our stay in Rondônia, we traveled to Café da Luz, a family-run farm that has become a benchmark for sustainable Amazonian robusta coffee production.
Second stop: Rondônia (Amazonas)
Our second destination was Rondônia, a state located in the Amazon region, at the heart of the continent. There, we visited the Projeto Rural Sustentável – Amazônia, an initiative spanning the states of Amazonas, Pará, and Rondônia, aimed at mitigating greenhouse gas emissions in this biome. To achieve this goal, the project promotes solutions by strengthening six sustainable agro-extractive value chains, from cultivation to commercialization. These include pirarucu fish and Brazil nuts in Amazonas, açaí and cacao in Pará, and round fish species and coffee in Rondônia.
Throughout the day, we explored the different stages of the coffee and Brazil nut production chains. Our visit began at the Yabnaby space of the Paiter Suruí people, where we were warmly welcomed by the community. They shared their food and stories with us, and we had the chance to taste the coffee they produce as well as the round fish species. It was a day of deep learning, where we not only gained insights into the production process but also connected with the rich worldview of the Paiter Suruí people.
The journey continued with a visit to the GapEy community and the headquarters of the Coopaiter cooperative in Cacoal (Rondônia). At the end of our stay in Rondônia, we traveled to Café da Luz, a family-run farm that has become a benchmark for sustainable Amazonian robusta coffee production.
Third stop: Brasilia (DF)
Our final destination was Brasília, where IABS has its main headquarters. Over several days, we met with key departments of the institute, including administration, legal, and communications, among others. Each meeting provided us with the opportunity to gain a detailed understanding of the institute’s operations and strategies, resulting in valuable insights for our own organization.
We also had the chance to be there during a special moment on the IABS agenda: its Integration Week. This annual event brings together everyone involved in the organization to share and celebrate the achievements of each project—an experience that enriched our visit even further.
This journey has not only been a profound learning experience for the entire Atelier itd team but also an opportunity to strengthen our ties with IABS. Through this collaboration, we have deepened our partnership and laid the foundation for future joint projects.
Third stop: Brasilia (DF)
Our final destination was Brasília, where IABS has its main headquarters. Over several days, we met with key departments of the institute, including administration, legal, and communications, among others. Each meeting provided us with the opportunity to gain a detailed understanding of the institute’s operations and strategies, resulting in valuable insights for our own organization.
We also had the chance to be there during a special moment on the IABS agenda: its Integration Week. This annual event brings together everyone involved in the organization to share and celebrate the achievements of each project—an experience that enriched our visit even further.
This journey has not only been a profound learning experience for the entire Atelier itd team but also an opportunity to strengthen our ties with IABS. Through this collaboration, we have deepened our partnership and laid the foundation for future joint projects.
