At a Glance
Location: Pará, Brazil
Impact Areas: Sustainable Agriculture
People Supported:
Smallholder Farmers
Joined NESsT Portfolio:
2021
Overview
Açaí is one of the most popular functional foods in the Amazon rainforest, with high energy and nutritional value. The fruit is often used in the production of various food products, including juices, ice cream, fruit mix, in addition to fresh consumption.
Founded and led by traditional Brazilian açai producers, Cooperativa Agropecuaria dos Produtores Rurais de Meruú (“Cooaprime”) is a rural cooperative located in the northeast region of Pará state that is dedicated to supporting and expanding the income opportunities of riverine families along the Meruú-açu river. COOAPRIME sources Açai berries from 35 supplier families and improves the livelihoods of more than 180 families that are involved in the production, collection, and transportation of Açai berries. Its artisanal and sustainably managed products are sold raw, frozen, or depulped to regional and national processing facilities.
In addition to ensuring decent income for local açaí collecting families, COOAPRIME also incentivizes local communities to adopt sustainable bioeconomy practices rather than destructive practices such as logging and mining that lead to deforestation. The production of açaí contributes to environmental conservation – it incentivizes local collectors to preserve natural wetlands rather than clearing them and requires much smaller planting areas than soy, cattle, and other agricultural monocultures that damage the environment.
Results & Impact
35
smallholding families supported
180
sustainable small farmers and producer livelihoods improved
“
Açaí is a very important source of income for traditional people in the Amazon. We believe COOAPRIME has impressive growth potential and is well-positioned to fulfill the growing demand for superfoods and healthier industrialized products, such as açaí juice and its derived products.
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NESsT Investment
NESsT’s investment will support COOAPRIME to build its own açaí processing plant. By acquiring technology such as a freezing tunnel and a refrigerated chamber, COOAPRIME will be able to expand its line of açaí products and improve inventory management, further increasing income for local producers. NESsT portfolio managers will offer strategic guidance to help COOAPRIME to expand its sales channels, forming new partnerships with governments, social franchises, as well as other businesses. In addition, NESsT will also help COOAPRIME to adopt a gender lens in their operations, promoting gender equality actions including hiring more women in management positions.