Revista O Papel - 05/12/2023
By Writing Team
Posted in May 12, 2023
Using a seed-dispensing drone, it is possible to release 20,000 Seed Capsules, covering one hectare per flight, with technology developed at the company’s Research and Development Center.
Ambipar, a leading Brazilian multinational in environmental management, introduces Seed Capsules, a sustainable and innovative technology to accelerate seed planting. Developed at the company’s Research, Development, and Innovation Center, the solution was created using biodegradable collagen capsules derived from pharmaceutical industry waste. Thus, encapsulated native tree seeds, combined with soil conditioner, reinforce and expedite mass reforestation in degraded areas.
In practice, upon contact with water, the Seed Capsules quickly dissolve and form nutrients and biological organisms that activate the seeds, increasing the likelihood of germination, especially in degraded soils lacking nutrients, which suffer from deforestation, wildfires, erosion, or other anthropogenic degenerative actions. Through a dedicated seed-dispensing drone developed for this purpose, it is possible to aerially release 20,000 Seed Capsules, covering approximately one hectare per flight.
The technology can also be used in conjunction with Ecosolo®, an organic compound developed by Ambipar using waste from the paper and pulp industry, enveloped in collagen capsules made from byproducts of the pharmaceutical industry. Together, they protect the seed from sunlight and enhance soil fertility, thereby increasing the probability of germination. In addition to promoting the concept of a circular economy by valorizing industrial byproducts, these technologies also contribute to the economic development of traditional communities, such as indigenous and coastal communities, as the native seeds are acquired from their cooperatives.
To monitor the process, aerial images are captured by drones. This way, tree development can be certified. “In addition to dispersing a large volume of Seed Capsules, drone technology can collect high-resolution images with geographic coordinates autonomously, as well as monitor soil temperature, pest control, and other reforestation activities” says Gabriel Estevam Domingos, an environmental engineer and Head of Innovation at Ambipar.
In Brazil, especially in the Amazon, deforestation rates are alarmingly high. According to satellite monitoring by Imazon (Amazon Environmental Research Institute), from January to December 2022, 10,573 km² were devastated, the largest area since the institute began monitoring the region in 2008. This is equivalent to the destruction of nearly 3,000 football fields of forests daily. Particularly in remote and inaccessible areas, activated Seed Capsules for aerial reforestation with drones facilitate logistics compared to traditional reforestation methods. So far, various tests have been conducted in strategic areas, such as degraded riparian forests around the Serra da Cantareira in Greater São Paulo and in the Xingu region in the state of Pará.
Seed Capsule Process
Hard capsules, which are prevalent in the pharmaceutical industry, are traditionally made of gelatin, water, coloring, and other optional ingredients such as preservatives and adjuvants. When they come into contact with water, they undergo solid-to-gel changes when slightly above room temperature.
On the other hand, gelatin capsules made of biodegradable material along with the seeds do not harm the environment since they undergo natural degradation and release the seeds into the soil while nourishing them with nitrogen.
Innovative Work Structure
The Research, Development, and Innovation Center is located at Ambipar Environment, a subsidiary of Ambipar that works with environmental services, organic and industrial waste composting, e-waste and post-consumer waste management, automotive waste management, environmental protection products, among other processes. The R&D Center occupies a technological complex with laboratories, equipment, and prototyping lines, where researchers develop innovative solutions for the environment, focusing on the circular economy and waste valorization. Over the past 10 years, the Center has registered numerous patents, received over 40 awards, published hundreds of articles, and implemented several projects in Brazil and abroad.
