In 2003, in the Bahia Southern Lowlands, the Presidente Tancredo Neves Rural Producers’ Cooperative (COOPATAN) and the Brazilian Agricultural Research Company (EMBRAPA) established a partnership. The results include the Demonstrative Field for Technologies for Manioc Root Cultivation, set up at the Novo Horizonte Farm, head office of COOPATAN and the Presidente Tancredo Neves Rural Family Home (CFRPTN). At these sites, studies are conducted
with manioc crops designed to boost the production of the member farmers and contribute toward the learning of the students, who receive training geared toward
the rural profession.

One of the students from CFR-PTN, Ubiratan Santos, planted four hectares of manioc on his property using the knowledge acquired at the teaching unit that, just like
COOPATAN, is part of the Development and Integrated Growth Program with Sustainability for the Southern Bahia Lowlands Environmental Protection Areas Mosaic (PDCIS), supported by the Odebrecht Foundation and public and private partners. “With the harvest, I will have my own income to reinvest in my production projects,” said Santos. Due to his strong belief in technology applied to agriculture, the youth receive an invitation from EMBRAPA to participate in the event commemorating the company’s 40-year history, held on April 24 in Brasília. Ubiratan shared his history with the public: “A few years ago, I agreed with the idea that agriculture was not profitable,” he said. “With the application of adequate techniques, I observed that the activity can be turned into a good business. Just like myself, there are several youth who believe in agriculture.”