Research areas

Márcio Elias Ferreira

Work in preventive genetic improvement to obtain plants that are resistant to quarantine organisms posing high risk to Brazilian agriculture. The work aimed at developing gene stocks for important plant species with genetic resistance to pathogens and pests that have not been introduced in Brazil and that have potential to cause serious economic damage to Brazilian agriculture. The experiments in Embrapa's Labex USA were focused on the study of the genetic interaction between the bean plants and Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola. The bacteria cause bean halo blight, a devastating disease in several countries of the world, luckily still absent in Brazil. Since the research deals with a high risk quarantine pathogen, the collaboration with an international research institution through the Labex Program is strategic and necessary. The work is developed in partnership with the Soybean Genomic Improvement Laboratory, USDA-ARS.

Eduardo Chumbinho de Andrade

Citrus Huanglongbing (HLB) is the greatest threat to the survival of the citrus industry in Brazil and the United States. Given the importance of citrus agribusiness and the complexity of the disease, Embrapa and ARS have strategically sought to expand their research capacity on this topic through scientific cooperation, resulting on the establishment of the Labex-USA Citrus HLB. The research aimed at developing strategies to limit the spread of HLB through the control of its vector, the Asian citrus psyllid Diaphorina citri. Psyllid genomic information was used to build a control method based on RNA interference (RNAi). The work also attempted to identify chemical and nanotechnology approaches to improve the delivery of dsRNA molecules to the plant and the insect. The scientific progress achieved in this scientific cooperation has resulted in the generation of biotechnological assets, a better understanding of the behavior and effects of dsRNA molecules in the plant and the environment, and the identification of a chemical compound that can increase foliar absorption of dsRNA molecules. The promotion of the expansion of research in Brazil for the use of RNAi for pest control was another important contribution of the LABEX-USA Citrus HLB.

Alexandre Lima Nepomuceno

In a first work proposal, the researcher Alexandre Nepomuceno's research group led studies alongside the ARS Plant Gene Expression Center (PGEC) in Albany, CA. The team was composed by two PhD students (Juliana Marcolino Gomes and Thiago Nakayama), two visiting scholars (Renata Fuganti Pagliarini and Fabiana Rodrigues) and three Embrapa researchers (Alexandre Nepomuceno, Hugo Molinari and Newton Carneiro). In partnership with Dr. Frank Harmon's group, they conducted research on soybeans and maize for 2 years that aimed at understanding how water deficit changes circadian control in plants and how such changes modify stress defense responses. Activities included the qPCR and RNAseq experiments in maize at PGEC with the same focus of the experiments with soybeans. In addition to the important results obtained and the strengthening of this partnership with the USDA/ARS while making joint action possible, nearly two dozen scientific papers in reputed journals, two book chapters and two technical notes were also published..

Ladislau Martin Neto
Coordinator of the Embrapa-Labex USA Program

The main contributions of the Program, in this period, were::

Forest Management: introduction of the LIDAR technology (established in the use of light and laser) in Brazil for the 3D monitoring and assessment of the Amazon Forest, with the FS.
Animal Health: unprecedented research on the H1N1 influenza virus, jointly with USDA/ARS and that included a finding with recommendations about continued pork meat consumption, during the global H1N1 outbreak; and the development of the anti-tick bovine vaccine by ARS-Kerrville/Texas jointly with Embrapa Beef Cattle, whose tests indicated  efficiency above 85% in herds. Moreover, he started research on the use of genomics in parasitic infections in sheep.
Establishment of the Inverted Labex USA, as researchers from USDA/ARS and FS were assigned to Embrapa to work with Nanotechnology, Climate Change and Forests.
Involvement of a group of researchers in the area of animal and plant conservation and genetic improvement, in the context of food securirty, at USDA/ARS-Fort Collins.
Climate Change: Establishment of cooperation with Research Network GRACEnet “Greenhouse gases Reduction and Agricultural Carbon Enhancement network”, world reference in research in climate change at USDA/ARS, and advances in research on carbon sequestration mechanisms and stabilization in the soil.
Other incorporated research: Plant Biotechnology (increased plant resistance to periods of drought) and Biodiversity - New Products and Bioactive Compounds.
Genetic Resources: transfer of 542 accessions from Embrapa's rice core collection to USDA/ARS. In a decade, USDA/ARS has sent more than 58,000 accessions to Brazil.
First visit of then President of the ARS, Edward Knipling, to Brazil and Embrapa, with signature of the new cooperation agreement for the Labex USA.

Marcus Vinicios Neves D’Oliveira

The activities developed in the program had two focal priorities: the construction of a long-term international cooperation program and the development of research in strategic areas.
The main activities carried out during the period were:

• The Project “Amazon Forest Management Network” to connect education and research institutions, forest companies, communities, and governmental bodies related to environmental management, to ensure the sustainable management of forests in the region;
• Biomass Combustion Project (INPE, University of Washington, and Embrapa) - Study of Natural Regeneration and Secondary Succession in areas Managed with Fire in Western Amazon, with the aim of gathering a multidisciplinary team to investigate parameters concerning biomass combustion in forest fires and emissions;
• Use of LIDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) for forest planning and monitoring in the Amazon region through the project “LIDAR for forest planning and monitoring in the Antimary State Forest Western Amazon”, approved by the International Programs, through the U.S. Forest Service (FS/USDA);
• Integration of Program activities with the Brazilian Forest Service (SFB), which also has cooperation programs with the FS. In this integration, joint activities in the areas of Public Forest Management, National Forest Inventory and Training were held.

Janice Reis Ciacci Zanella

Janice Reis Ciacci Zanella worked as a researcher in the Embrapa-Labex USA Animal Health Program allocated to NADC/ARS/USDA, the greatest center of reference in animal health in the world (2008-2010). Besides research on the control and eradication of diseases (she conducted 18 projects, 12 of which at NADC), she also worked in their coordination for a short period, to prospect opportunities for the exchange of researchers between Embrapa and ARS (more than 15 partnerships in the period, and NADC keeps welcoming Animal Health researchers and researchers from Embrapa), to fund projects in Brazil (R$1,5 millions), and publish and organize workshops. USDA has recognized the team's efforts in research on influenza through awards and 10 million dollars in funds. The influenza vaccine used in swines around the world was developed and tested by such team. As a researcher in the Program, Zanella gave continuity to this work, advising (three Master's students) and approving projects in Brazil. This work informed the Animal Health Portfolio, of which she was nominated President in the period from 2012 to 2015.

Luiz Henrique Capparelli Mattoso

The goal of the Embrapa-Labex Program was to prospect opportunities for collaboration between ARS and Embrapa and to establish initial cooperation ties between these institution to exploit nanoscience and nanotechnology applications and possibly other areas that can contribute to the development of agribusiness.

All of Labex’s objectives on nanotechnology were successfully reached. New opportunities of collaboration between the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and Embrapa were prospected and several cooperation links were established to exploit  nanoscience and nanotechnology applications that can give important contribution to agribusiness in the development of new uses for agro-based products, new bioproducts, biodegradable plastics, edible films, hydrogels for controlled release, and new materials for taste and aroma sensors. Furthermore, a research network has been established at Embrapa involving ARS and Embrapa centers, as well other research institutes and universities, including the approval of several research projects and the establishment of a nanotech laboratory at Embrapa.

José Renaldi Feitosa Brito - retired

The researcher worked in the Embrapa-Labex USA Program conducting the project: “Identification of pathogens in the dairy and pork chains”, with the participation of the Units: Embrapa Tropical Agroindustry, Embrapa Goats and Sheep, Embrapa Dairy Cattle, and Embrapa Swine and Poultry; and USDA-ARS/ERRC (Eastern Regional Research Center). Moreover, he collaborated to articulate other projects between Embrapa and USDA-ARS/ERRC and with the University of Wageningen, and participated in other research projects.

The recovery and the characterization of pathogens responsible foodborne diseases and the identification of the sources of contamination throughout the production chain were two of the goals reached in food safety in this program. The research led in collaboration with the ERRC partners had significant impact on the quality/safety of dairy products for consumers and can contribute to farmers remaining in the activity..

Mercedes Concórdia Carrão Panizzi

Main contributions: Prospection on biofuels - liaison with the University of Brasília's Fuel and Materials Laboratory (LMC/UnB) and NCAUR; organization of the symposium on Biodiesel, with the participation of scientists from the United States, Europe, Japan and Brazil at  the IV International Soybean Processing and Utilization Conference (ISPUC-IV), in Foz do Iguaçu, 2004; on bioink for graphic printing - involvement of the LMC/UnB and MP3 project on soyink; on sunscreen - biodegradable soybean oil-based product for use in cosmetics, jointly with the company Boticário; on biodegradable plastics, films, adhesives, and compounds - jointly with Embrapa Instrumentation, with the NCAUR researchers visiting the unit and vice versa; in functional foods - courses on analysis methodologies for the determination and purification of isoflavones and saponins, jointly with Embrapa Food Technology and Embrapa Soybeans, proposal of cooperation with the program Functional Foods for Health of the University of Illinois, collaboration in the organization of the workshop reduction of risks of chronic illnesses and consumption of soybean products, promoted by USP and ANVISA. Lectures given in different events and publications of the research results on genetic and environmental variability of soybean cultivars with regard to their composition of fatty acids, tocoferols, saponins, isoflavones, aminoacids and subunits of protein fractions.

Antônio Ricardo Panizzi

Main contributions: an intensive minicourse on “Alert System for Integrated Pest Management”, taught by specialists of the University of Oregon, at Embrapa Soybeans. Relocation of a collection of 30,000 documents on soybean insects, through a donation from the University of Illinois, currently placed at Embrapa Soybeans. Enabling postdoc studies of a colleague from Embrapa Wheat at the USDA in Wooster, Ohio, on entomopathogenic nematodes. Enabling Embrapa colleagues to provide consultation on bioinsecticides for African countries (trilateral collaboration). Publicization of the programs on Integrated Pest Management held in Brazil in several forums within the USA. Facilitation of Brazilian scholarship holders' development of their PhD studies at USDA in Beltsville. Publicization of the results of research conducted by Labex in congresses by the Entomological Society of America (ESA). Establishments of research networks on entomopathogenic viruses, and development of artificial diets to breed insects, with researchers from USDA in Columbia, Missouri and in Peoria, Illinois. Pioneering research on stinkbug oviposition in artificial substrata chemically treated with plant extracts. Editing and publication of a Labex newsletter called “Antenagem” in the USDA in Peoria.

Terezinha Padilha - retired

The researcher aimed at concentrating efforts in the identification of animals with genetic traits of resistance and susceptibility to diseases, so as to focus in mechanisms that can reduce the consumption of chemical compounds. The results of the joint work especially include:
• Identification of chromosomic regions associated with resistance to diseases;
• Construction of study tool that can identify genes associated with immune response in bovines;
• Insertion of Embrapa's and partner institutions' research teams in the international partnership for the construction of the physical bovine gene map and inclusion of new Gyr breed genes in international gene banks.
Moreover, the researcher liaised in the areas of spongiform encephalopathy (mad cow disease), foot and mouth disease, antimicrobial resistance, and hygiene and traceability of the animal byproducts, along the Codex Alimentarius, World Health Organization, World Organization for Animal Health, European Economic Community, the USFDA and USDA.

Maria José Sampaio

In 1996, Brazil initiated the implementation of intellectual property right laws, in line with the accession to the TRIPS Agreement. As Labex's work strategy has always included the search for the "new and strategic" to quickly incorporate it into Embrapa's programming, it was determined that one of its first topics would include training and learning in the field of intellectual property (IP), its institucional management and its connection with business in public-private partnerships.

Cornell University was identified as a partner, as it was already putting the management of its IP portfolio into practice in the shape of business contracts with startups or large companies involving IP as a tool in public-private partnerships. In addition, there was also fruitful interaction with ARS' IP Office, where the negotiation of protected cultivars with large seed companies was at an implementation stage, anticipating the arrival of GM seeds in international market related to the agricultural sector.

The knowledge provided by the Labex program results in major impact on Embrapa's activities in the scope of global policies, furthering the participation of Brazilian delegations in global forums that have direct impact on agriculture.

Silvio Crestana
Coordinator of the Embrapa-Labex USA Program

As the first Coordinator of the Embrapa-Labex USA Program, Crestana made important articulations efforts to begin start the activities of this important partnership between Embrapa and USDA-ARS.
With regard to cooperative research programs currently being discussed and that started in that period, it is worth highlighting:

• The Program involving NASA-LBA, INPE, Embrapa, and USDA-ARS in the field of natural resources management of natural resources, in the Brazilian Amazon region;
• The one in the field of Animal Genomes;
• The one in Sustainable Agriculture;
• The International Insect Genome Program in Insect Genomes involving France, the US, and Brazil;
• The Program to receive the NASA airplane mission in Brazil in 2001;
• The Program with NASA to establish, in Brazil, satellite data collection, calibration and validation stations: Advanced Microwave Sanning Radiometer to be launched by NASA to monitor the water cycle on the Earth’s surface of the Earth;
• The Program on the Management of Swine and Poultry Dejects in the Concordia,Santa Catarina,Brazil.

No campo da Agricultura de Precisão e Gestão de Solo e Água, foram realizados experimentos em ambos os países, desenvolvendo e usando sensores de condução de eletricidade do solo, detectando tensões de nitrogênio, fósforo e água, incluindo a aplicação de Funções de Pedotransferência na base do solo brasileiro, para prever as propriedades da água.