Brazilian biodiversity deserves an Oscar in Norway
Publicado em 13/03/2025
Divulgação
Elcio Guimarães, Head of Embrapa Rice and Beans, Depositing Rice and Bean Cultivars in the Seed Vault.
Published on 07/03/2025
Broadcasted by Radio Eldorado/Estadão – Brazil
*José Luiz Tejon
Returning to Brazil after the International Agricultural Show in Paris, meetings with Terroir in Spain, and discussions on cooperativism in Portugal, I can’t help but notice that some are still sowing the seeds of conflict amid the commercial war and rearmament in Europe.
Meanwhile, Brazil experienced a unique moment of Peace, and few were aware of it. Our nation, actually deserves another Oscar, the Oscar of peace.
The Head of Embrapa Rice and Beans, Mr. Elcio Guimarães, with great honour and pride, deposited 1,351 rice and 1,350 bean seeds on behalf of Brazil in the famous Seed Vault, the magnificent Global Genetic Bank of Germplasm, located in the Svalbard archipelago, Norway.
This true Noah's Ark of Global Food Security was built in 2008 and serves as a safeguard for World Agricultural Biodiversity.
It protects seeds against natural disasters, climate change, and other risks that threaten life on the planet from food shortage perspective.
This global germplasm bank is located inside a mountain under temperatures below zero and above sea level, ensuring additional protection against floods and other catastrophes.
Mr. Elcio Guimarães told me: “As a rule, only depositors have access to their samples. On 25th February,2025, I had the gratifying opportunity to carry and deposit our Brazilian boxes here, contributing to another backup of the diversity of these crops in Brazil. It was a unique experience and an important step in preserving our Agricultural Biodiversity.”
Congratulations to Embrapa, as well! I’d anyone in the Agrindustrial Business to recognise Cenargen, our esteemed National Center for Genetic Resources in Brasília, which boasts the largest Tropical Genetic Bank in the world.
Congratulations, Mr. Elcio Guimarães! We could feel with you the euphoria and immense satisfaction our country achieving this Oscar of Peace at the world's largest genetic food security bank.
Your photos in the ice, holding the boxes, make us feel all brazilian hands united in this exemplary contribution in favour of life on Earth.
This example represents doing the invisible, which is generally superior and much greater than the visible.
The Brazilian presence in the world's largest genetic bank in Norway not only signifies security for our country but also for all nations in the Tropical Belt of the Earth, and for the entire planet, in the event of catastrophes, which, far from being denied, must be anticipated, and we must be prepared to face them.
We have very significant and vital facts for the world, beyond what commodity exchanges can record. So, Brazil's "invisible accounting" is dozens of times greater than its recorded GDP, such is the wealth of this flabbergasting tropical country.
And long live this actual Oscar, authentic Greatest Prize of Peace, having Brazil sharing its seeds in the world's largest food security bank.
May this, indeed, be made known to all.
Congratulations, my friend!
Back to Brasil!
*José Luiz Tejon - PhD in Education Universidad de La Empresa/Uruguay. Master's degree in Art Education and History of Culture - Mackenzie University. Journalist and Publicist - Harvard, MIT and PACE/USA/Insead in France Specialisation Academic Coordinator of Master Science Food & Agribusiness Management at Audencia in Nantes/France and FECAP/Brazil. Managing Partner at Biomarketing and TCA International. Professional Head at Agro Anefac. Writer author and co-author of 37 books. Agro Personality Award 2023/ABAG. Former director of Grupo Estadão, Agroceres and Jacto S/A.
