On November 27, 2024, in Carauari (Amazonas), BR Arbo and the Associação dos Moradores do Baixo Riozinho (ASMOBRI) signed a partnership under Iamazonia’s Mejuruá Project to organize and scale sustainable açaí production on the Riozinho. The agreement authorizes ASMOBRI members to harvest and process wild forest products within BR Arbo’s property and sets out technical support so producers can meet health, environmental, and market requirements. The aim is to raise family incomes from forest-friendly work while keeping the forest standing.
ASMOBRI leads local operations; BR Arbo provides training, compliance support, and buyer outreach so lots can be aggregated and sold into state, national, and international markets.
Earlier in 2024, the project strengthened ASMOBRI’s presence in town by refurbishing the association’s office in Carauari and upgrading an açaí processing unit. Delivered on February 15, these improvements support day-to-day coordination and quality control and are benefiting about 70 families along the Riozinho.
The timing is significant. The only industrial plant serving Carauari, Jutaí, and Juruá closed in 2023, leaving producers without nearby processing. This partnership helps rebuild the value chain locally, creating jobs, stabilizing income, and reducing losses from unprocessed fruit.
Early priorities include organized harvests, improved post-harvest handling, and transparent pricing. Local coordination is supported by ASMOBRI vice president Francisco “Tracoa” Viturino da Silva.
“Our goal is straightforward: organize the harvest, add quality and traceability, and make sure more value stays with families on the Riozinho,” said Maurizio Rocchi, General Manager at BR Arbo. “When the forest pays fairly, conservation follows.”
This agreement reflects Iamazonia’s model in practice: people-centered, nature-based, and delivered in partnership. It sits alongside other Mejuruá social investments in clean water, off-grid power, internet access, and land regularization, aligning climate finance with tangible benefits for families and long-term protection of the forest.