Brazil and France launch Amazon sociobioeconomy immersion program

Researchers and students from Brazilian and French universities recently completed a 12-day immersion program in Pará, Brazil, focused on sociobioeconomy and sustainable development models in the Amazon.

This initiative marks the first activity of the International Immersive School in Amazonian Sociobioeconomy, a project established through scientific cooperation between Brazil and France. The program was facilitated by Amabio, an investment program for the Amazonian bioeconomy, following a bilateral agreement reached during French President Emmanuel Macron’s 2024 visit to Brazil.

The educational program is designed for master’s and doctoral students from the Université Paris-Est Créteil (UPEC), Université de Guyane (UG), Federal University of Pará (UFPA), and the Federal University of Western Pará (UFOPA). The curriculum aims to provide students with a deeper understanding of sociobioeconomy, including the role of indigenous peoples, traditional populations, and the complex network of conservation units. During the immersion, 16 students participated in lectures and field visits to production chains for açaí, cocoa, and rubber, as well as visits to extractive communities in the Tapajós National Forest.