Parana initiative aims to expand the use of yerba mate

According to information released by the Rural Development Institute of Paraná (IDR-Paraná) and Iapar-Emater, the State Government launched on Monday (3) the New Research and Innovation Arrangement (NAPI) Yerba Mate: Innovation and Valorization. The initiative brings together universities, research centers, and representatives of the production sector to develop more sustainable and efficient cultivation systems, optimize industrial processes, and diversify the use of raw materials. The investment is R$ 3.9 million, through the Araucária Foundation. Paraná remains the largest national producer of yerba mate, a product of economic and cultural relevance for the State. In 2024, nine municipalities in Paraná registered the highest productions in the country, with São Mateus do Sul standing out, responsible for 17.2% of the national total, maintaining the same volume as the previous year. The extraction of yerba mate, concentrated in the Southern Region, generated the second highest ...