A arca de Noé : diálogos sobre conservação entre ciência e povos indígenas

A presente tese revela-se como uma etnografia das atividades de pesquisa e de projetos científicos que tratam da conservação do germoplasma na Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (Embrapa) e de suas relações com as práticas dos povos indígenas. A Embrapa Clima Temperado, localizada no município de Capão do Leão, no Rio Grande do Sul, e a Embrapa Recursos Genéticos e Biotecnologia, situada em Brasília, no Distrito Federal (DF), compõem o campo em estudo, assim consideradas pelas particularidades na mediação entre o sistema de curadoria da Embrapa e as reivindicações dos indígenas quanto ao acesso às sementes conservadas em bancos ativos de germoplasma daquela Empresa. O tema da salvaguarda vegetal, representado por normas e instrumentos de segurança das espécies vegetais em questão, conhecida também pela escatologia moderna como “A Arca de Noé”, se apresenta como uma problemática ao mesmo tempo científica e política. Trata-se de espaços de mediações formalizados por pesquisadores(as) e povos indígenas, a partir de conflitos entre as regras institucionais e as relações de poder e saber. Nesse emaranhado de tensões e lutas, o que está em jogo é a democratização e a liberdade das práticas científicas na Embrapa, uma instituição conhecida historicamente pelo desenvolvimento de pesquisas e tecnologias a serviço do agronegócio. Esta tese etnográfica é fruto dos discursos e práticas e suas relações entre os distintos espaços de mediação, ora mediados por pesquisadores(as), ora por povos nativos. A descrição desses espaços retrata também alguns efeitos da gestão do sistema de conservação da Embrapa sobre a realidade indígena, especialmente no campo etnográfico, orientado pela filosofia política Mbyá Guarani.This thesis reveals itself as ethnography of research activities and scientific projects that deal with the conservation of germplasm in the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) and its relations with indigenous peoples' practices. Embrapa Clima Temperado, located in the municipality of Capão do Leão, in Rio Grande do Sul, and Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, located in Brasília, Federal District (DF), make up the field under study, thus considered for their particularities in mediation between Embrapa's curatorial system and indigenous claims regarding access to seeds kept in active germplasm banks of Embrapa. The theme of the plant protection, represented by the norms and instruments of security of the plant species under consideration, also known by modern eschatology as "The Ark of Noah", presents itself as a simultaneously scientific and political problematic. These are spaces of mediations formalized by researchers and indigenous peoples, based on conflicts between the institutional rules and the relations of power and knowledge. In this tangle of tensions and struggles, what is at stake is the democratization and freedom of scientific practices at Embrapa, an institution historically known for the development of research and technologies at the service of agribusiness. This ethnographic thesis is the fruit of discourses and practices and their relations in the different spaces of mediation, sometimes under the initiative of researchers, sometimes of native peoples. The description of these spaces also portrays some effects of the management of the Embrapa conservation system on the indigenous reality, especially in the ethnographic field, guided by the Mbyá Guarani political philosophy

A biopolítica e seus instrumentos de regulamentação: instituições regionais e suas estratégias de planejamento científico-político

The debate on the right of farmers to access seeds held in public institutions in Brazil gained visibility through public policies and national legal instruments. However, given the scenario of restrictions that the country is experiencing, the National Plan of Agroecology and Organic Production – PLANAPO - the main plan of actions that stimulates the opening of institutional germplasm banks, is stagnant. This research has as its central theme the power relations built between researchers - as representatives - of Embrapa, social organizations and federal and international institutions, regarding the issues that permeate the world of genetic materials. It seeks to understand and analyze the interactions of the Embrapa institution, at local, regional and global levels, and the advances and setbacks, in the current political context, regarding the opening of Germplasm Banks - BAGs - to civil society. It questions how it is possible to think about actions that guarantee the access of these peoples to the seed collections in Embrapa. How legal policies and mechanisms on genetic materials have affected the development of research and its interactions with society. Therefore, it seeks to analyze the empirical information from the theoretical-methodological perspective of authors whose investigative approach is based on the relations of power and knowledge. Concepts such as biopolitics, subjectivity, and eco-governmentalism are central to the discussion of this theme. Finally, it finds that both researchers and farmers have subverted control mechanisms, building spaces of freedom, which is an alternative for rural development in the country.El debate sobre el derecho al acceso de los pueblos agricultores a las semillas conservadas en instituciones públicas en Brasil ganó visibilidad por medio de las políticas públicas e instrumentos jurídicos nacionales. Sin embargo, ante el escenario de restricciones que el país está viviendo, el Plan Nacional de Agroecología y Producción Orgánica – PLANAPO – el principal plan de acciones que estimula la abertura de los bancos de germoplasma institucionales, se encuentra estancado. Esta investigación tiene como tema central las relaciones de poder construidas entre investigadores – como representantes - de la Embrapa, organizaciones sociales e instituciones federales e internacionales, en lo relacionado a las cuestiones que permean el mundo de los materiales genéticos. Busca comprender y analizar las interacciones de la institución Embrapa a nivel local, regional y global, y los avances y retrocesos, en el contexto político actual, respecto a la abertura de los bancos de germoplasma –BAGs – para la sociedad civil. Cuestiona cómo es posible pensar en acciones que garanticen el acceso de esos pueblos a las colecciones de semillas en la Embrapa. Cómo las políticas y los mecanismos legales sobre los materiales genéticos han afectado el desarrollo de las investigaciones y, sus interacciones con la sociedad. Por tanto, procura analizar las informaciones empíricas bajo la óptica teórica metodológica de autores cuyo abordaje investigativo está pautado en las relaciones de poder y conocimiento. Conceptos como biopolítica, subjetividad y ecogubernamentalidad son centrales en la discusión del presente tema. Finalmente se constata que tanto investigadores, como pueblos agricultores han subvertido los mecanismos de control, construyendo espacios de libertad, y configurando una alternativa para el desarrollo rural, en el país.O debate sobre o direito ao acesso dos povos agricultores às sementes conservadas em instituições públicas no Brasil ganhou visibilidade por meio das políticas públicas e instrumentos jurídicos nacionais. No entanto, diante do cenário de restrições que o país está vivenciando, o Plano Nacional de Agroecologia e Produção Orgânica – PLANAPO - o principal plano de ações que estimula a abertura dos bancos de germoplasma institucionais, encontra-se estagnado. Essa pesquisa tem como tema central, as relações de poder construídas entre pesquisadores – como representantes - da Embrapa, organizações sociais e instituições federais e internacionais, no que se refere às questões que permeiam o mundo dos materiais genéticos. Busca compreender e analisar as interações da instituição Embrapa, em níveis local, regional e global, e os avanços e retrocessos, no contexto atual político, no que diz respeito à abertura dos Bancos de Germoplasma - BAGs - para a sociedade civil. Questiona como é possível pensar em ações que garantam o acesso desses povos as coleções de sementes na Embrapa. Como as políticas e os mecanismos legais sobre os materiais genéticos têm afetado o desenvolvimento das pesquisas e, as suas interações com a sociedade. Para tanto, procura analisar as informações empíricas sob a ótica teórico-metodológica de autores cuja abordagem investigativa esta pautada nas relações de poder e conhecimento. Conceitos como biopolítica, subjetividade e ecogovernamentalidade são centrais na discussão do presente tema. Por fim, constata que tanto pesquisadores, quanto os povos agricultores têm subvertido os mecanismos de controle, construindo espaços de liberdade, o que configura uma alternativa para o desenvolvimento rural, no país

Photography-based taxonomy is inadequate, unnecessary, and potentially harmful for biological sciences

The question whether taxonomic descriptions naming new animal species without type specimen(s) deposited in collections should be accepted for publication by scientific journals and allowed by the Code has already been discussed in Zootaxa (Dubois & Nemésio 2007; Donegan 2008, 2009; Nemésio 2009a–b; Dubois 2009; Gentile & Snell 2009; Minelli 2009; Cianferoni & Bartolozzi 2016; Amorim et al. 2016). This question was again raised in a letter supported by 35 signatories published in the journal Nature (Pape et al. 2016) on 15 September 2016. On 25 September 2016, the following rebuttal (strictly limited to 300 words as per the editorial rules of Nature) was submitted to Nature, which on 18 October 2016 refused to publish it. As we think this problem is a very important one for zoological taxonomy, this text is published here exactly as submitted to Nature, followed by the list of the 493 taxonomists and collection-based researchers who signed it in the short time span from 20 September to 6 October 2016

A arca de Noé : diálogos sobre conservação entre ciência e povos indígenas

A presente tese revela-se como uma etnografia das atividades de pesquisa e de projetos científicos que tratam da conservação do germoplasma na Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (Embrapa) e de suas relações com as práticas dos povos indígenas. A Embrapa Clima Temperado, localizada no município de Capão do Leão, no Rio Grande do Sul, e a Embrapa Recursos Genéticos e Biotecnologia, situada em Brasília, no Distrito Federal (DF), compõem o campo em estudo, assim consideradas pelas particularidades na mediação entre o sistema de curadoria da Embrapa e as reivindicações dos indígenas quanto ao acesso às sementes conservadas em bancos ativos de germoplasma daquela Empresa. O tema da salvaguarda vegetal, representado por normas e instrumentos de segurança das espécies vegetais em questão, conhecida também pela escatologia moderna como “A Arca de Noé”, se apresenta como uma problemática ao mesmo tempo científica e política. Trata-se de espaços de mediações formalizados por pesquisadores(as) e povos indígenas, a partir de conflitos entre as regras institucionais e as relações de poder e saber. Nesse emaranhado de tensões e lutas, o que está em jogo é a democratização e a liberdade das práticas científicas na Embrapa, uma instituição conhecida historicamente pelo desenvolvimento de pesquisas e tecnologias a serviço do agronegócio. Esta tese etnográfica é fruto dos discursos e práticas e suas relações entre os distintos espaços de mediação, ora mediados por pesquisadores(as), ora por povos nativos. A descrição desses espaços retrata também alguns efeitos da gestão do sistema de conservação da Embrapa sobre a realidade indígena, especialmente no campo etnográfico, orientado pela filosofia política Mbyá Guarani.This thesis reveals itself as ethnography of research activities and scientific projects that deal with the conservation of germplasm in the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) and its relations with indigenous peoples' practices. Embrapa Clima Temperado, located in the municipality of Capão do Leão, in Rio Grande do Sul, and Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, located in Brasília, Federal District (DF), make up the field under study, thus considered for their particularities in mediation between Embrapa's curatorial system and indigenous claims regarding access to seeds kept in active germplasm banks of Embrapa. The theme of the plant protection, represented by the norms and instruments of security of the plant species under consideration, also known by modern eschatology as "The Ark of Noah", presents itself as a simultaneously scientific and political problematic. These are spaces of mediations formalized by researchers and indigenous peoples, based on conflicts between the institutional rules and the relations of power and knowledge. In this tangle of tensions and struggles, what is at stake is the democratization and freedom of scientific practices at Embrapa, an institution historically known for the development of research and technologies at the service of agribusiness. This ethnographic thesis is the fruit of discourses and practices and their relations in the different spaces of mediation, sometimes under the initiative of researchers, sometimes of native peoples. The description of these spaces also portrays some effects of the management of the Embrapa conservation system on the indigenous reality, especially in the ethnographic field, guided by the Mbyá Guarani political philosophy

Among human beings, Gods and plants: a Mbyá Guarani ethnographic perspective on contemporary Kokue maintenance

Esta dissertação apresenta informações a respeito das experiências vivenciadas em campo sobre a dimensão da práxis e as perspectivas Mbyá Guarani no mundo de conhecimentos e reciprocidades entre humanos, Deuses e plantas (‗sementes verdadeiras‘ e crioulas) nas tekoa (aldeias) do litoral do Rio Grande do Sul (RS). Nesse contexto, buscou-se acompanhar e registrar as sabedorias e atividades desempenhadas pelos Mbyá Guarani, principalmente por intermédio de dois interlocutores, sobre a manutenção das suas kokue (roças) na atualidade. Assim, estão demonstradas aquelas atividades desempenhadas pelo grupo, por meio de seus relatos, quando os mesmos detinham o manejo de espaços maiores e ambientalmente constituídos de mata nativa. Esse trabalho também foi construído em torno das relações atuais que alguns Mbyá Guarani, localizados no contexto do empreendimento de duplicação da rodovia BR-116, no estado do Rio Grande do Sul, têm vivenciado nas trocas de ‗regimes de conhecimentos‘ e sementes crioulas ocorridas com a Embrapa (Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária), visando a diversificação dos cultivos agrícolas desse coletivo. A pesquisa concebida junto ao grupo ganha importância diante das atuais condições ambientais e fundiárias da maior parte das aldeias Mbyá Guarani, que têm vivenciado diversas dificuldades para a manutenção das kokue, fundamentais para a obtenção alimentar do corpoespírito Mbyá Guarani e manutenção da natureza-cultura do grupo. Deste modo, é fundamental a compreensão da ontologia implicada na conservação, segundo as perspectivas Mbyá, das ‗sementes verdadeiras‘, assim como as sementes crioulas, para que se possa, entre outras coisas, embasar e formular políticas públicas com o intuito de minimizar as atuais dificuldades vividas pelo grupo.The present dissertation reveals information related to field experiences collected on Mbyá Guarani praxis dimension and perspectives in the world of knowledge and reciprocity among human beings, Gods and plants (―real seeds‖ and landraces) found in tekoa (indigenous settlements) located at Rio Grande do Sul (RS) coastal region. As part of this context, the wisdom and practices, mainly from two Mbyá Guarani persons, on the kokue maintenance were followed and registered as performed now and at the time the indigenous group had greater areas where native forests were found. The work also relates the relationship the Mbyá Guarani located by the BR 116 federal highway, under duplication, have established at this time with Embrapa (Brazilian Agricultural Research Enterprise) on ‗knowledge strategies‘ and landrace seeds in dealing with the Guarani cropping diversity. The work gains in relative importance due to current land and environmental conditions found at the Guarani settlements, which make it difficult the kokue maintenance, what is of paramount importance to feed the Mbyá Guarani body-spirit, keeping their natureculture. Under these assumptions, is of fundamental importance the undertanding of the ontology linked to the conservation of what is considered ‗real seeds‘ as well as landrace seeds, under the Mbyá perspective, in order to better design public policies to minimize the adverse reality the group is living

Transgenic and genetic erosion: the paradox of food (in)security

Este artigo objetiva analisar a relação entre a expansão do cultivo dos transgênicos e suas implicações sobre os processos de erosão da agrobiodiversidade e as práticas e hábitos alimentares. Em uma perspectiva global, passados 21 anos de cultivos transgênicos, passou-se de aproximadamente 2 milhões de hectares cultivados em 1996, para mais de 185 milhões ha em 2016, revelando a magnitude das transformações em que o processo deve ser considerado. Optou-se por uma pesquisa qualitativa, de caráter/objetivo exploratório, realizada através de levantamento bibliográfico visando ampliar e atualizar o conhecimento sobre os temas considerados. A compreensão da importância da biodiversidade para a dinâmica dos agroecossistemas e consequente sobrevivência da espécie humana é colocada como elemento basilar para o dimensionamento dos impactos e manifestações do fenômeno da erosão em suas diferentes bases e complexidade. As transformações nos hábitos alimentares e os riscos à segurança alimentar são abordados a partir das tendências de homogeneização e padronização do regime alimentar que se apresentam como fenômenos hegemônicos ao redor do mundo. A simultaneidade e interrelação entre os processos analisados e a magnitude das transformações resultantes remetem ao aprofundamento da análise para o dimensionamento dos impactos e riscos na segurança alimentar e em outras dimensões da vida, em especial nas áreas da saúde, ecologia e ambiente. Registra-se, paradoxalmente, a emergência e multiplicação de várias experiências em contratendência aos processos considerados, seja no manejo e conservação da agrobiodiversidade, seja na territorialização e identidade dos hábitos e práticas alimentares.This article aims to analyze the relationship between the expansion of transgenic crops and their implications on agrobiodiversity erosion processes and feeding practices and habits. Under a global perspective, after 21 years of transgenic cropping, its area has grown from an estimated two million hectares, in 1996, to more than 185 million in 2016, revealing the magnitude of the transformation in which the process should be considered. It comprehends a qualitative research, of an exploratory character / objective carried out through a bibliographic survey aiming to broaden and update the knowledge about the topics considered. The understanding of the importance of biodiversity for the dynamics of agroecosystems and the consequent survival of the human species is placed as a basic element for the dimensioning of the impacts and manifestations of the phenomenon of erosion in its different bases and complexity. The changes in dietary habits and the risks to food security are approached from the trends of homogenization and standardization of the diet that appear as hegemonic phenomena around the world. The simultaneity and interrelationship between the analyzed processes and the magnitude of the resulting transformations points to the deepening of the analysis for the dimensioning of impacts and risks in food security and other dimensions of life, especially in the areas of health, ecology and environment. The emergence and multiplication of several experiences in counter-tendencies to the considered processes, whether in the management and conservation of agrobiodiversity, or in the territorialization and identity of eating habits and practices, is paradoxically recorded

STRATEGIES FOR USE OF GERMPLASM COLLECTIONS OF BEANS – THE CASE OF \u3ci\u3ePHASEOLUS VULGARIS\u3c/i\u3e AT EMBRAPA TEMPERATE CLIMATE

INTRODUCTION The genetic resources of plants have historically constituted the basis for the development of world agriculture comprising in such way the instrument of greater significance to the food safety of human populations. Germplasm collections make up the building for the conservation of these resources, realizing from the more traditional forms, such as are found at the level farmer’s production units, where are found the guardians of seeds, up to the most complex and institutional germplasm banks as of national and international organizations. The latter have significant numbers of entries obtained through specific expeditions for collection or through donations made by farmers, predominantly guardians of seeds. The International Centre for Tropical Agriculture-CIAT, located in Colombia, for example, has more than 36,000 entries. The uses that are given to material stored in Germplasm Banks are usually limited to the development of new cultivars in breeding programs, meaning that an extremely low number of accesses has been exploited. The present work presents the structure of the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) collection at Embrapa Clima Temperado and reveals adopted strategies aiming to dynamize the use of this collection

NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES: a data set on carnivore distribution in the Neotropics

Mammalian carnivores are considered a key group in maintaining ecological health and can indicate potential ecological integrity in landscapes where they occur. Carnivores also hold high conservation value and their habitat requirements can guide management and conservation plans. The order Carnivora has 84 species from 8 families in the Neotropical region: Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Otariidae; Phocidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae. Herein, we include published and unpublished data on native terrestrial Neotropical carnivores (Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae). NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES is a publicly available data set that includes 99,605 data entries from 35,511 unique georeferenced coordinates. Detection/non-detection and quantitative data were obtained from 1818 to 2018 by researchers, governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private consultants. Data were collected using several methods including camera trapping, museum collections, roadkill, line transect, and opportunistic records. Literature (peer-reviewed and grey literature) from Portuguese, Spanish and English were incorporated in this compilation. Most of the data set consists of detection data entries (n = 79,343; 79.7%) but also includes non-detection data (n = 20,262; 20.3%). Of those, 43.3% also include count data (n = 43,151). The information available in NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES will contribute to macroecological, ecological, and conservation questions in multiple spatio-temporal perspectives. As carnivores play key roles in trophic interactions, a better understanding of their distribution and habitat requirements are essential to establish conservation management plans and safeguard the future ecological health of Neotropical ecosystems. Our data paper, combined with other large-scale data sets, has great potential to clarify species distribution and related ecological processes within the Neotropics. There are no copyright restrictions and no restriction for using data from this data paper, as long as the data paper is cited as the source of the information used. We also request that users inform us of how they intend to use the data

NEOTROPICAL XENARTHRANS: a data set of occurrence of xenarthran species in the Neotropics

Xenarthrans—anteaters, sloths, and armadillos—have essential functions for ecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts with domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, 10 anteaters, and 6 sloths. Our data set includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae (3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data on Dasypus pilosus (Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized, but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In this data paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence and quantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is from the southern United States, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to the austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n = 5,941), and Cyclopes sp. have the fewest (n = 240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n = 11,588), and the fewest data are recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n = 33). With regard to sloth species, Bradypus variegatus has the most records (n = 962), and Bradypus pygmaeus has the fewest (n = 12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to make occurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly if we integrate the xenarthran data with other data sets of Neotropical Series that will become available very soon (i.e., Neotropical Carnivores, Neotropical Invasive Mammals, and Neotropical Hunters and Dogs). Therefore, studies on trophic cascades, hunting pressure, habitat loss, fragmentation effects, species invasion, and climate change effects will be possible with the Neotropical Xenarthrans data set. Please cite this data paper when using its data in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us of how they are using these data

NEOTROPICAL ALIEN MAMMALS: a data set of occurrence and abundance of alien mammals in the Neotropics

Biological invasion is one of the main threats to native biodiversity. For a species to become invasive, it must be voluntarily or involuntarily introduced by humans into a nonnative habitat. Mammals were among first taxa to be introduced worldwide for game, meat, and labor, yet the number of species introduced in the Neotropics remains unknown. In this data set, we make available occurrence and abundance data on mammal species that (1) transposed a geographical barrier and (2) were voluntarily or involuntarily introduced by humans into the Neotropics. Our data set is composed of 73,738 historical and current georeferenced records on alien mammal species of which around 96% correspond to occurrence data on 77 species belonging to eight orders and 26 families. Data cover 26 continental countries in the Neotropics, ranging from Mexico and its frontier regions (southern Florida and coastal-central Florida in the southeast United States) to Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay, and the 13 countries of Caribbean islands. Our data set also includes neotropical species (e.g., Callithrix sp., Myocastor coypus, Nasua nasua) considered alien in particular areas of Neotropics. The most numerous species in terms of records are from Bos sp. (n = 37,782), Sus scrofa (n = 6,730), and Canis familiaris (n = 10,084); 17 species were represented by only one record (e.g., Syncerus caffer, Cervus timorensis, Cervus unicolor, Canis latrans). Primates have the highest number of species in the data set (n = 20 species), partly because of uncertainties regarding taxonomic identification of the genera Callithrix, which includes the species Callithrix aurita, Callithrix flaviceps, Callithrix geoffroyi, Callithrix jacchus, Callithrix kuhlii, Callithrix penicillata, and their hybrids. This unique data set will be a valuable source of information on invasion risk assessments, biodiversity redistribution and conservation-related research. There are no copyright restrictions. Please cite this data paper when using the data in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us on how they are using the data