The research activities of the Master’s Program in Agronomy shall be linked to the following research projects:

1) DIAGNOSIS AND ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING OF DRAINAGE BASINS.

- Research Line: Sustainable Agricultural Production

- Project Description: the increase of production and the population’s adaptation caused changes and conflicts in the use of lands and now strategies and guidelines are needed to balance the different interests governing spatial utilization. Drainage basin seems to be the right way of planning considering the environmental and legal aspects. The goal of this project is to enable studies in various drainage and subdrainage basins for environmental diagnosis, evaluate potentials and identify processes of natural resources’ degradation. Set up a special database of basin and through the techniques of geoprocess, algebra charts and special analysis, subsidizing strategies and private such as public action plans for the mitigation of these processes and of those in regional development.

- Professors participating in the project: Teresinha Esteves da Silveira Reis, Silvestre Bellettini, Luiz Carlos Reis and Rodrigo de Souza Poletto

2) PROTECTION OF PLANTS

- Research Line: Plant Health

- Project Description: the goal of this project is to attend activities concerning researches of plagues, diseases and weeds management, setting quality standards for the efficiency of controlling any damages or losses, as well as the optimization of agroquemicals’ use by reduction of applications and losses, in a sustainable, socioeconomic and environmental way.

- Professors participating in the project: João Pereira Torres, Jael Simões Rando, Cristina Batista Lima, Marco Antonio Gandolfo, Viviane Sandra Alves, Mayra Costa da Cruz Gallo de Carvalho and Leopoldo Sussumu Matsumoto

3) ASSESSMENT OF GRAIN AND CEREAL PRODUCTION, NUTRITIOUS CHARACTERISTICS, TYPES OF PROCESSING AND FORMS OF MONOGASTRIC AND RUMINANTS’ USAGE IN NUTRITION

- Line of Research: Sustainable Agricultural Production

- Project Description: the project aims to evaluate different genetic materials, such as the production characteristics in climate conditions of the norhern region of Paraná, as well as nutricious characteristics, types of processing to be used in animal nutrition.

- Professors participating in the project: Petrônio Pinheiro Porto, Marcos Augusto Alves da Silva , Marcelo Alves da Silva, Erika Cosendey Toledo de Mello Peixoto.

4) IMPACT OF FORAGE CROPS IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION IN THE NORTHERN REGION OF PARANÁ

- Line of Research: Sustainable Agricultural Production

- Product Description: the project aims to identify the best forage crops possible for the region’s climate conditions, such as productivity, quality, as well as working methods in the system of pasture production (monoculture, intercropping of grass and legumes and integrated systems of production) and the effects of these systems in the biological, physical and chemical soil.

- Professors participating in the project:  Petrônio Pinheiro Porto, Marcos Augusto Alves da Silva and Marcelo Alves da Silva.

5) MONITORING OF SOIL PROPERTIES IN DIFFERENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS.

- Line of Research: Sustainable Agricultural Production

- Project Description: aspects concerning environmental questions, with a special focus on incorrect handling of agricultural soils, associated with the request of physical analysis of soil for contracting Proagro (Programa de Garantia da Atividade Agropecuária), from 2008 on they started the studies of soil collection to characterize the physical properties, the importance of diagnosing its fertility and microbiological quality and considering governmental questions of research  incentive in cultures using potential biofuel. The goal would be to evaluate chemical, physical and biological properties of soil in different management systems cultivating potential cultures using biofuel.

- Professors participating in the project: Ana Maria Conte, Teresinha Esteves da Silveira Reis and Leopoldo Sussumu Matsumoto

6) PRODUCTIVE EFFICIENCY AND FOOD SECURITY: USAGE OF MEDICAL PLANTS AND BIOTHERAPEUTICS FOR THE SUSTAINABILITY OF ORGANIC ANIMAL WELFARE/HEALTH PRODUCTION

- Line of Research: Sustainable Agricultural Production

- Project Description: animal production and its by-products are of high importance in Brazilian agricultural business. The demand for natural products grows every year. Changes in the way of production require food to be produced under hygienic conditions with healthy animals, not disposed to antibiotic residues or other drugs. The growing search for natural therapies is being observed in accordance with a consumer market being ever more demanding with regard to food safety. This way, medical and biotherapical plants are observed and preserved to control animal welfare.

- Professors participating in the project: Erika Cosendey Toledo de Mello Peixoto, Petrônio Pinheiro Porto, Marcos Augusto Alves da Silva , Marcelo Alves da Silva.

The PGPAS’s objectives are:

I - To develop research projects focused on improving sustainable agricultural production, seeking to train students and prepare them for the job market.

II - To form research groups that bring together professors, students and external participants, such as post-doctoral fellows and undergraduate students, who establish dialogue with the national and international academic community.

III - To prepare master's dissertations that can contribute to generating knowledge in the field of Agricultural Sciences and related areas for applying scientific and technological expertise in solving problems in agricultural cultivation, such as the protection of natural resources and sustainable growth.

IV - To prepare dissertations contributing to technological innovation and technology transfer.

V - Promote events that bring the academic community together and promote discussion on current issues connected with debates in the agricultural and environmental sectors and themes of interest to society as a whole.

VI - Function as a hub for researchers, attracting graduate and undergraduate students aiming to train qualified human resources to develop and sustainably manage agricultural and livestock production.

VII - Support and encourage students in the Program to carry out internationalization and exchange activities through partnerships established in the agreements.

The program presents two lines of research:

1) Sustainable Agriculture and Livestock Production

Description:

Sustainable agricultural production systems guarantee that the current population's needs are met, environmental quality is maintained, and natural resources are preserved. This line of research aims to evaluate the aspects of agricultural and animal production, establish the best interaction between these activities, and optimize productivity considering environmental, social and economic sustainability. It seeks to use the natural elements with the proviso that agricultural activities are carried out according to the potential of each area, conserving the productive potential of these natural elements, especially soil and water. This research line aims to establish the agricultural potential of the field, allow sustainable planning of its use, diagnose the degradation processes, and propose mechanisms to recover these degraded areas.

2) Phytosanitary

Description:

This line of research aims to develop research that promotes establishing quality and efficiency standards for controlling pests and plant diseases. The objective is to optimize the use of agrochemicals, reducing losses during applications and consequently favouring socio-economic and environmental sustainability.

Presentation

Located in Bandeirantes, a city in the northern Paraná state, the Graduate Program in Sustainable Agriculture and Livestock Production (PGPAS) at the State University of the Northern Parana (UENP) was created in 2012 to address the high demand for qualified research projects which could help to improve the local agriculture and livestock production performance, as well as, and provide high-quality professional training for work in the areas of teaching, research and extension, qualified for the new agricultural model, which aims to increase productivity with a focus on the environmental sustainability of the production system.

The PGPAS mission follows the UENP’s agriculture area mission, which is underpinned by the preparation of qualified professionals to generate and spread knowledge and technology and foster sustainable agriculture and livestock production development. With the understanding that agricultural and livestock activities, constantly evolving, are pillars of economic growth and social development and must ensure that their processes lead societies to achieve prosperity and food security while taking care of health standards and environmental sustainability.

PGPAS—UENP's area of ​​concentration is “Systems for Sustainable Agricultural and Livestock Production”, and two lines of research are “Sustainable Agricultural and Livestock Production” and “Plant Health.” These are included in this “new” concept of the agricultural sector, focusing on the development of projects that explore the productive potential based on sustainability.

Coordinator: Prof. Dr. Oriel Tiago Kölln

Vice- coordinator: Prof. Dr. Petronio Pinheiro Porto 

Mandato: 1/9/2021 a 31/08/2025

Secretary: Sônia Regina Torres