The bioeconomy was at the heart of the discussions at Amazon Week 2026, an initiative that brought together representatives from governments, multilateral organizations, financial institutions, research centers, entrepreneurs, and civil society organizations to discuss pathways toward the sustainable development of the Amazon.
Throughout the program, held at strategic venues such as the Brazilian Embassy in Berlin, the European Parliament, the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, and the Brazilian Embassy in Paris, the debates highlighted the growing international interest in solutions capable of reconciling biodiversity conservation, productive inclusion, innovation, competitiveness, and low-carbon economic development.
In recent years, the bioeconomy has gained prominence on Brazil’s national and subnational agendas, driving the development of public policies, territorial strategies, and financing instruments focused on sustainable development. The implementation of the Mercosur-European Union agreement, the outcomes of COP30 held in Belém, and the growing interest from international investors and partners reinforce the role of the bioeconomy as an agenda capable of connecting biodiversity conservation, productive inclusion, innovation, economic development, and international cooperation.
Present at the event, Rafaela Costa, Bioeconomy Coordinator at the Public Policy Directorate of IPAM (Amazon Environmental Research Institute), highlighted the consolidation of the bioeconomy as a strategic agenda for the future of the Amazon.
“The discussions highlighted the growing convergence between environmental, economic, social, and climate agendas. The bioeconomy emerges as an opportunity to bring together biodiversity conservation, territorial development, productive inclusion, and international cooperation, especially at a time when the Amazon occupies an increasingly strategic position in global discussions. At the same time, it became clear that the challenge is not merely to increase investments, but to ensure that they strengthen local capacities, add value to the regions, and generate concrete opportunities for those who live and work in the Amazon,” he commented.
Throughout the week, topics such as bioeconomy financing, traceability, market access, innovation, ecosystem services, sustainable production chains, and international cooperation were featured in virtually all panels.
There was active participation from Amazonian entrepreneurs, who brought concrete experiences from their regions and the challenges they face in accessing global markets to the international debates.
For Ana Lídia Zoni Ribeiro, founder of Hidromel Uruçun, the presence of these stakeholders in decision-making spaces is essential to bring regulatory and trade discussions closer to the reality of Amazonian production chains.
“Often, discussions about international trade take place far from the regions themselves. Being able to bring the reality of those who do business in the Amazon into these spaces is essential. In our case, we work with a production chain that benefits more than 300 families and depends directly on the ecosystem services provided by bees. When we debate regulations and market access, we need to consider not only the final product, but the impacts these decisions may have on communities, biodiversity, and sustainable production chains that help keep the forest standing,” he emphasized.
The discussions also reinforced the role of public policies in creating a favorable environment for the development of the Amazonian bioeconomy and in building bridges between territories, investors, markets, and innovation.
For Camille Bendahan Bemerguy, Deputy Secretary of Bioeconomy for the State of Pará, the progress observed in recent years demonstrates the institutional maturation of the agenda and the importance of cooperation among different stakeholders.
“For the past five years, Pará has been building a structured agenda for the bioeconomy, based on planning, institutional coordination, and dialogue with different sectors of society. Today we find a much more favorable environment than a few years ago, with public policies being implemented, greater investor interest, and growing recognition of the strategic importance of the Amazon. This is a time to strengthen partnerships, expand cooperation among the Amazonian states, and create the necessary conditions for the bioeconomy to establish itself as a concrete alternative for sustainable, inclusive, and equitable economic development in the region,” he stated.
In addition to discussions on trade and investment, the program held in Paris highlighted the role of science, innovation, and research networks in building a sustainable bioeconomy for the Amazon.
The debates reinforced the importance of knowledge production, international scientific cooperation, and the participation of Amazonian researchers in formulating long-term strategies for the region.
For Clarisse Touguinha Guerreiro, a public policy researcher at IPAM, the week’s discussions highlighted the central role of science in advancing the Amazonian bioeconomy.
“It became clear that research institutes and universities can make a decisive contribution to reducing investment risks in the bioeconomy on multiple fronts, such as: providing qualified data on territories to market and financial sector actors; in the development of biotechnologies that expand the portfolio of products derived from local biodiversity; and in research on the use of byproducts from production chains, which increase the efficiency and economic viability of businesses. “In addition, the panels emphasized that the advancement of the bioeconomy depends on solid enabling conditions, and land-use planning emerges as a key element for ensuring legal certainty and attracting long-term investments to the Amazon,” he explained.