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AçaíBranco:
MaintainingAgrobiodiversitythroughaLocal
SeedSystemintheAmazonEstuary
Ashley DuVal, MESc 2010
Introduction
Background
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[V[OL(THaVUYP]LYPU[OL)YHaPSPHUZ[H[LVM(THWm
HMHYTLYWVPU[LKV\[[^V]HYPL[PLZVM[OLHsHxWHST
(Euterpe oleracea, Mart.), his primary cash crop,
NYV^PUNZPKLI`ZPKL>OPSLOLJHSSLKVULHsHxIYHUJV
HUK[OLV[OLYHsHxWYL[V0Z[Y\NNSLK[VJVTWYLOLUK
the differences between the palms, both laden with
dense clusters of jade fruits. The difference was subtle,
I would learn, and virtually indiscernible to all but
[OLMHYTLYYLZWVUZPISLMVYOHY]LZ[PUN[OLMY\P[VM[OLZL
palms. The oily palm fruits of the common variety
HsHxWYL[V^V\SKÄYZ[YPWLU[VHKLLWZOHKLVMW\YWSL
black, then continue to develop on the tree until the
dark fruits obtained a dusty silver sheen. The fruits
VMHsHxIYHUJVOV^L]LY^V\SKYLTHPUHWHSLZOHKL
VM NYLLU HZ [OL` YPWLULK HUK ^V\SK ÄUHSS` KL]LSVW
H SPNO[ ZPS]LY` NSVZZ V]LY ^OH[ V[OLY^PZL HWWLHYLK
to be an unripe fruit, a difference that was virtually
\UKL[LJ[HISLMYVT[OLNYV\UKTL[LYZILSV^[OLZL
[HSS WHSTZ >P[O UV V[OLY PKLU[PM`PUN MLH[\YLZ [OHU
[OL MY\P[»Z SHJR VM W\YWSL WPNTLU[ [OL PKLU[PÄJH[PVU
VM HsHx IYHUJV ]LYZ\Z \UYPWL HsHx WYL[V YLWYLZLU[Z
H OPNOS` SVJHSPaLK MVYT VM RUV^SLKNL HZ VUS` [OL
OHY]LZ[LY ^OV YLN\SHYS` HZJLUKZ [OL [YLLZ [V JVSSLJ[
[OL MY\P[ PU [OLPY HsHx Z[HUK JHU KLÄUP[P]LS` PKLU[PM`
the variety. Locally valued forest product varieties
Z\JO HZ HsHx IYHUJV JHU VMMLY ]HS\HISL PUZPNO[Z PU[V
the processes of selection, adaptation and diffusion
and the role that small holder producers play in
domestication of crop and forest product resources.
4`YLZLHYJOL_WSVYLZ[OLZLLKL_JOHUNLUL[^VYRZHUK
THUHNLTLU[WYHJ[PJLZHZZVJPH[LK^P[O[OLWYVK\J[PVU
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;OL YVSL VM HsHx IYHUJV HZZ\TLZ NYLH[LY
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and its trademark purple color a household term. The
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PU[LYUH[PVUHSJVTTVKP[`VYºMHZOPVUMY\P[»)YVUKPaPV
ILNHU VUJL HsHx OHK HSYLHK` ILJVTL ^LSS
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[OLYLP[WLYTLH[LK[VV[OLY\YIHUJLU[LYZPU)YHaPSPU
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PU MYVaLU W\SW HUK TP_LK ^P[O N\HYHUm Z`Y\W HUK
V[OLYMY\P[Z[VZ\WWSLTLU[P[^P[OZ\NHYZHUKJHMMLPUL
^OPSL KPZN\PZPUN P[Z \U\Z\HS LHY[O` ÅH]VY (S[OV\NO
L_WVY[ KLTHUK MVY HsHx PZ X\PJRS` NYV^PUN [OL
SHYNLZ[ KLTHUK MVY HsHx PZ Z[PSS YLNPVUHS ^OLYL [OL
food retains its cultural and dietary importance.
Ashley DuVal is originally from the California Bay Area,
where she graduated with a BS in Conservation and Resource Studies from UC Berkeley. She worked in the East
Bay in urban forestry before coming to FES. Her academic
and research interests at FES included ethnobotany, community management of resources, traditional knowledge
of plant resources and conservation of agrobiodiversity.
She plans to continue pursuing research and work opportunities in documenting and conserving plant diversity.
(sHx IYHUJV PZ ULP[OLY NYV^U UVY THYRL[LK
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]LUKLYZPU[OLHsHxZ[HSSZVM4HJHWmYLWVY[[OH[TVZ[
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-\Y[OLYTVYL P[ PZ JSHPTLK [V SHJR [OL OLH]`
SPUNLYPUNHUKZSLLWPUK\JPUNLMMLJ[Z[OH[HsHxWYL[VPZ
YLUV^ULKMVYPUJS\KPUN[OLJOHYHJ[LYPZ[PJKPZ[LUKLK
ºHsHx ILSS`» HUK PU [OPZ YLNHYK PZ VM[LU YLMLYYLK [V HZ
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W\SWPZVM[OPJRLYJVUZPZ[LUJ`HZPNUVMOPNOLYX\HSP[`
(personal observation 2009). Many of these claims are
supported by the differences in composition between
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PYVU JVU[LU[ H X\HSP[` ILSPL]LK [V HJJV\U[ MVY P[Z
ability to be mixed with other foods and not cause
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KPNLZ[PIPSP[`HUKML^LYKPL[HY`YLZ[YPJ[PVUZHZZVJPH[LK
with more oil and less iron serve an important function.
(sHxIYHUJVOHZILLUUV[LKPU]HYPV\Z^YP[[LU
16 Volume 29, 2010
Açaí Branco: Maintaining Agrobiodiversity in the Amazon Estuary
HJJV\U[Z MVY [OL SHZ[ `LHYZ *HSaH]LYH [OV\NOYHYLS`TLYP[PUNTVYL[OHUHSPULVY[^VHIV\[
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OPNOLY WYPJLZ >LPUZ[LPU (aL]LKV )YVUKPaPV :TP[O ?H]PLY L[ HS +LZWP[L P[Z WLYZPZ[LU[ YLNPVUHS KLTHUK HUK SVJHS
PTWVY[HUJLHsHxIYHUJVOHZTLYP[LKSP[[SLVM[OLMVYTHS
Z[\K`VYNLUL[PJPTWYV]LTLU[^VYRHUKIYLLKPUN[OH[
[OLWYLKVTPUH[PUNW\YWSL]HYPL[`OHZILLUYLJLP]PUN
>OPSL,4)9(7([OL)YHaPSPHU(NYPJ\S[\YHS9LZLHYJO
(NLUJ` ILNHU NLUL[PJ L]HS\H[PVUZ VM HsHx IYHUJV
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June 2009). To date, no study has been conducted on
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branco and little remains known about this evasive
]HYPL[`(sHxIYHUJVPZUV[ULJLZZHYPS`HUL^]HYPL[`
PU4HJHWm¶^OPSLHJHxIYHUJVOHZILLUWYLZLU[MVY
HZSVUNHZ[OL\YIHUHsHx]LUKLYZPU[LY]PL^LKJV\SK
remember, it has always been primarily imported
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the purple counterpart, and for the last two years
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explored in the theoretical framework of an informal
seed system. While the formal seed sector represents
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of approved and tested seeds, with the intention of
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PUW\[Z PUMVYTHS ZLLK Z`Z[LTZ HYL SVJHSS` VYNHUPaLK
IHZLK \WVU [YHKP[PVUHS RUV^SLKNL HUK N\PKLK I`
Figure 1. Açaí Branco Planting Techniques: (a) Seeds of açaí branco are set aside in
buckets to germinate after the pulp has been removed. (b) Seedlings of açaí branco are
separated into plastic bags until they are large enough to transplant in the ground. (c)
Seeds of açaí branco are dumped in a pile to germinate in a sunny environment close to
the house. (d) Seeds of açaí branco are cast onto the forest fl oor and left to germinate.
Tropical Resources Bulletin 17
Ashley DuVal
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seed systems often perform an important role in the
distribution of new varieties, maintenance of crop
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two systems, formal and informal, can be viewed
as complementary, often by necessity (Almekinders
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a dynamic seed system for small farmers for small
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use and development, (2) seed production and
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will serve as the foundation for an analysis of
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The community where this study took place is
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a very recent land history and well-documented land
Figure 2. Map of
Açaí Branco Seed
Exchanges
18 Volume 29, 2010
cover transitions since it was converted from ranch
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`LHYZ9HMÅLZ-\Y[OLYTVYL[OLJVTT\UP[`
members all maintain secure land tenure, and the
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HJ[P]P[PLZZ\JOHZZOYPTWHUKÄZOPUNVYYL[PYLTLU[HUK
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Methods
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consisted of participant observation within a household
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informal interviews with a number of community
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key informants. The outcomes included a social map
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WYVK\J[PVU THUHNLTLU[ HUK WYLMLYLUJL KH[H
Açaí Branco: Maintaining Agrobiodiversity in the Amazon Estuary
Results and Discussion
Seed Production and Storage Under Local
Conditions:
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Seed production is said to be more
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Variety Use and Development
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1
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they already had mature palms. When interviews L_JOHUNLZ`Z[LTHTVUNZ[HUKIL[^LLUJVTT\UP[PLZ
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to the urban market, the seeds were set aside to be SPNO[LU]PYVUTLU[PUK\JLZLHYSPLYWYVK\J[PVUVMMY\P[Z
NLYTPUH[LK HUK WSHU[LK ^OPSL [OL ZLLKZ VYPNPUH[PUN in the life cycle of the palm. All property owners
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It was reported by the head of Household A that the MVYLZ[\WYP]LYYLWVY[LKJHZ[PUNZLLKZMYVTHsHxIYHUJV
fruits purchased from Household B had superior to intensify the varietal production under more humid
X\HSP[`W\SW;OPZPZQ\Z[VULL_HTWSLKLTVUZ[YH[PUN and closed canopies, conditions linked with superior
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variety branco, even after the type has saturated the
Seed Exchange Mechanisms of Açaí Branco:
community.
(JJVYKPUN[V(STLRPUKLYZL[HS [OLYLHYL
LZZLU[PHSS`ZV\YJLZMYVT^OPJOHMHYTLYJHUVI[HPU
ZLLK;OLZLPUJS\KLOPZOLYV^UOHY]LZ[V[OLYMHYTLYZ»
Tropical Resources Bulletin 19
Ashley DuVal
OHY]LZ[Z[OLSVJHSNYHPUTHYRL[HUK[OLMVYTHSZLLK
ZLJ[VY:\Y]L`ZYL]LHSLK[OH[[OLÄYZ[[OYLLVM[OLZLHYL
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introduced to the community from either one or
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Conclusion
The results of this study support the role of
informal seed systems in crop domestication and
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improved upon, selected for, and experimented
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20 Volume 29, 2010
estuary. However, its very presence and proliferation
within communities demonstrates an important fact
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domestication. The local importance, individual
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selected between and within communities supports
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their economic options, in response to local tastes
and preferences.
Acknowledgements
;OPZ^VYR^HZTHKLWVZZPISLI`ÄUHUJPHSZ\WWVY[
from the Yale Tropical Resources Institute, the Council on
Latin American and Iberian Studies at Yale, the Society
MVY ,JVUVTPJ )V[HU` [OL .HYKLU *S\I VM (TLYPJH [OL
Earth Institute at Columbia University and the Columbia
University Institute for Latin American Studies. I am very
appreciative of the feedback and support provided by
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NLULYVZP[`VM[OLJVTT\UP[PLZ^OLYL0^VYRLKLZWLJPHSS`
the families of Sr. Hillario Vilhena de Sousa and Sr. João
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Pio, Edwison and Lediane.
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domestication and human population decline. EcoUVTPJ)V[HU`!
Açaí Branco: Maintaining Agrobiodiversity in the Amazon Estuary
+V\NSHZ1, :\JJLZZM\SZLLKWYVNYHTZ(WSHUUPUN
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dynamics of varietal replacement in Pakistan . Re
search report no . 1, CIMMYT, Mexico.
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Princeton University Press.
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Press.
Wierema, H ., R . Paulussen and C . Almekinders, 1992.
3VZZPZ[LTHZSVJHSLZKLZLTPSSHZLUSHWLX\LUHWYV
K\JJPVUHNYPJVSH!SVZWHPZLZLU]PHKLKLZHYVSSV0U
Sistemas locales de semillas en Centro-America .
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noviembre de 1991, edited by H . Wierema and R .
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Tropical Resources Bulletin 21