The Amazon was the destination of Apoena Biotech’s 2nd bioprospecting expedition, carried out between February 26th and March 1st, 2024, in the ecological corridor of the Tapajós National Forest, Pará, Brazil. The Brazilian company’s main goal was to find new microorganisms and plants participating in the biodiversity of ecosystems.
Building on their sustainable bioprospecting project initiated in 2023 in Fernando de Noronha (an archipelago in the Atlantic ocean, off the Brazilian coast, dubbed “Blue Amazon”), Apoena Biotech continued its exploration of biological resources with an expedition to the Green Amazon focused on the study of soil microorganisms and 24 plant species known for the production of bioactive substances and their abundance in the region [1].
“The Blue and Green Amazon expeditions – led by our company – aim to search for microorganisms in distinct biomes, so each can address specific questions and, consequently, meet the demands of an increasingly responsible and aware market. For example, ‘How do corals protect themselves from the sun at low tide?’ (in the case of Fernando de Noronha), ‘How can a soil that is not rich in nutrients support the wide diversity of plant species present in the region?’ (in the case of the Amazon Forest),” comments Patricia Mendes, Marketing Director at Apoena Biotech.
In order to preserve the environment and within the framework of the authorizations obtained, Apoena Biotech’s targets of interest (plant organs such as roots, stems, leaves and fruits, litter and soil) were collected manually in small quantities (less than 5g of each sample).
“The Amazon Forest’s soil, though lacking in nutrients, boasts an extensive array of microbiological diversity. This diversity is essential for recycling organic matter and fostering the growth of diverse life forms. It achieves this through processes such as the production of plant hormones, the availability of nutrients, and even the inhibition of plant pathogens. The average annual temperatures in the Amazon Forest usually range between 22 and 28°C, and the relative humidity is also high. This scenario makes the region conducive to developing a vast diversity of microbial species,” highlights Paula Segura, Leader of the Bioprospecting Laboratory at Apoena Biotech.
Given the time for isolation and identification of collected microorganisms, the biological actives from the Green Amazon are expected to be available to the market, in Apoena Biotech’s screening bank, from September 2025.
Footnotes
[1] For the Green Amazon expedition, Apoena Biotech secured authorization from SISBIO (Biodiversity Authorization and Information System) for scientific activities, as well as local approval from ICMBio Santarém for entry into the Tapajós National Forest. Authorization to access also involved meetings with leaders of traditional Amazon communities to align information to be shared with the Tapajós Flora Federation.
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