Institute Seminar Series: Tourism and regional development in the Brazilian Amazon - Reflections on the açaí production chain and its technological trajectories in Belém-Pará, Brazil

Speaker

Dr Helbert Michel

Abstract

How can the açaí (Euterpe oleracea) production chain, based on its distinct technological trajectories and through tourism, contribute to regional development in the Brazilian Amazon? Taking this question as a starting point, we seek to systematise reflections on the stages of production, circulation and consumption of açaí in the Amazon region and its relationship with tourism in Belém, which is the capital of the state of Pará in Brazil. In such, we offer a qualitative evaluation of the consumption dimension in representative spaces of this city, such as goods markets and restaurants, which reveal important aspects of this stage of the production process in question. In addition, we seek to evaluate the ways in which the different technological trajectories linked to the domestic and international açaí production chain have dealt with climate change and given rise to forms of regional development in this part of the Brazilian Amazon. The analysis presented highlights the limits, contradictions and, above all, the potential of this important natural product for the economy of this vulnerable eco-system.

Biography

Dr Helbert Michel Pampolha de Oliveira is a geographer and holds a PhD in Socio-Environmental Development from the Centre for Advanced Amazonian Studies (NAEA) at the Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Brazil. He is working on the ‘Climate change and tourism: Analysis of risks, impacts and alternatives associated with food production chains’ research project coordinated by Dr Thiago Allis at the University of São Paulo, which is funded by the leading Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq). Helbert is a Visiting Academic at Surrey Hospitality and Tourism Management of SBS, hosted by Dr Nikolas Thomopoulos as part of his Institute for Sustainability role, also collaborating with Dr Elena Dawkins. He will stay at Surrey until July 2026 to analyse data collected in the state of Pará (Brazilian Amazon) during the COP-30 and to participate in knowledge sharing activities, while working on a collaborative journal publication.

Contact

Email ifs@surrey.ac.uk for the Teams link and with any questions.