Understanding Cassava Ethnovarieties in the Brazilian Amazon: Harnessing Traditional Knowledge For Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture

Objective: To characterize ethnovarieties of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) in traditional communities on the border between Juruti (Pará) and Parintins (Amazonas), focusing on the diversity and management practices associated with the cultivation of this plant in the Brazilian Amazon. Theoretical Framework: Cassava is vital for food security and the economy in the Brazilian Amazon. The loss of traditional varieties or ethnovarieties in border communities in Amazonas and Pará is a reality. By focusing on morphological descriptors, ancestry and management practices, we can identify the use of these varieties and thus highlight ecological and diverse adaptations in the region. Method: With ethical approval and community consent, ethnobotanical interviews, farm walks and participatory analysis were carried out in four communities. Morphological descriptors were used, such as leaf shape and root pulp color, as well as climatic variations, to understand the relationship between traditional knowledge and the adaptation of local varieties to the conditions. Results and Discussion: The data was analyzed using PCA (Principal Component Analysis) and a statistical dendrogram, which revealed high similarity between areas 2 and 3, followed by area 1, indicating similar agricultural practices and environments. This diversity of ethnovarieties reflects an ancestral and consolidated agricultural management system, showing a deep cultural identity and knowledge about the adaptability of varieties to the region. Research Implications: In this research, the importance for community members to conserve ethnovarieties in situ for social justice resistance, income and culinary quality, important factors for the conservation and sustainable use of agrobiodiversity, can be seen in the localities. Originality/Value: In order to give greater value to the use and conservation of these ethnovarieties, this research shows the potential for genetic improvement programs and public policies in these locations aimed at food security and strengthening family farming in the Amazon.