**7. The US and German honey market**

*Ecosystem and Biodiversity of Amazonia*

and deprived of the most basic civil rights. To counter the racism of the Quilombola, the Brazilian government must create instruments that focus on both class and racial inequalities [55]. Brandao et al. describe that "There is a high degree of institutional distance between state and local governments and the Quilombola communities." [56], p. 10. Due to the prevailing structural racism, i.e., the social system, with its legal concepts, and its political and economic structures, causes minorities [57]. Due to the segregation often associated with this, i.e., in the context of the Quilombola, a separation of the different living spaces and the resulting social status and stigmas, e.g., black and rural poor, there are unequal life chances [34, 58]. This idea leads to the fact that it is difficult for Quilombola to sell their products on the Brazilian market. Because the population living in cities considers the people living in the Amazon (forest) as inferior [59], which can lead to a lower willingness to buy or fairly pay for their products. To bypass this barrier to access the market, one option could be to export Quilombola Honey - or any of the other traditional products such as Acai, Brazil Nuts, or fruits as Cupuassu, with similar benefits for protecting the rainforest. However, there are no reports or technical studies on assessing its viability, despite its enormous potential to provide economic inclusion and the positive consequences in protecting the rainforest and its biodiversity.

**6. Analysis of the potential export market for Quilombola honey**

*Trade import value of honey 2014–2018. Top ten importing countries measured by 2018 [68].*

Honey is a trendy product nowadays [60]. This trend is illustrated by the global Honey market, where Honey's international production is continuously increasing [61, 62]. Garcia (President of the International Organization of Honey Exporters)

**226**

**Figure 5.**

With imports of 197,866,579 kg, the USA offers a higher volume than Germany with 82,483,285 kg, in 2018, which makes the market opportunities in the USA appear more promising. However, comparing the revenues it in the USA (EUR 2.14/kg) was gained less than in Germany (EUR 2.85/kg) [68] and looking at the EU import prices of Brazil Honey (EUR 3.34/kg) is even higher in 2018 [69]. However, depending on the use, quality (e.g., conventional, organic), and distribution channel of the Honey, a substantial price differentiation occurs in Germany [70–72]. In contrast, the USA has little or no price differentiation between conventional and organic Honey [73]. Also, the United States Department of Agriculture shows a significant drop in organic Honey prices in 2018; it shows a price alignment within the US market [74].

In 2019, the EU concluded a free trade agreement with the Mercosur states (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay), under which around 92% of taxes on imported goods are to be abolished. Accordingly, it can be presumed that revenues from sales to the EU will increase further. However, within the agreement, the Mercosur states have committed themselves to sustainable forest management [75]. Klöckner (Federal Minister of Agriculture from Germany) emphasized under the current rainforest clearing that if Brazil does not meet its commitment to sustainable forest management, the German government will not accept it inactively [76]. Germany also supports Brazil within the framework of the "bilateral development cooperation," which (as of 20 February 2020) supports 104 projects and programs with a total of EUR 1.76 billion [77]. Nevertheless, it should be noted that the EU is in favor of stringent product safety regulations [78–85]. Thus, the barriers to selling a food product on the EU market are correspondingly high.

Guaranteeing the safety of products is also essential in the USA. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates the guidelines for food. Production facilities and dealers must be registered with the FDA [86]. The USA also has Honey specific regulations such as proper labeling "FDA-2006-P-0207" [87]. In 2014, the Agricultural Marketing Service had asked: "How a Federal standard of identity for Honey would be in the interest of consumers, the Honey industry, and US agriculture?" [88]. Moreover, it responds to various petitions that demand such clarification [88]. In principle, there is also significant economic cooperation between the USA and Brazil. The USA claims to be the second largest trading partner of Brazil, which resulted in an overall trade surplus of more than USD 20 billion on the part of the USA in 2017 [89].

On the fact sheet "Bilateral Relations between the USA and Brazil," it is pointed out that both countries have, among other things, "…respect for human rights,…" as a shared commitment and refer to the Partnership for Conservation of Amazon Biodiversity (PCAB). The PCAB intends to strengthen Brazil's vast protected area systems with USD 80 million over 2016–2024, including Indigenous territories to support the "…sustainable forest-friendly value chains…" [89]. However, because of the previously presented policy of Bolsonaro [29, 33], and Trump's trade wars, which reinforces Bolsonaro's clearing policy [90], the achievement of the project's objectives is questionable.

This paper suggests concentrating on the German market as an export country. Firstly, because Germany financially values Brazilian Honey in its conventional and organic form. Secondly, Germany's political attitude is an advantage for Quilombola, as it is the opposite of Trump's policy indirectly supporting the deforestation of the rainforest. Thirdly, Germany, together with the EU, is facilitating the export of many products through tax cuts. Lastly, concentrate on the German market on the first-hand makes it is easier to expand the export market to other EU countries such as France and Italy, which also have high imports. Therefore, the German market is for the export of Quilombola Honey more interesting.

### **8. Protection of the rainforest in the international trade**

In the international context, Brazil is under increasing pressure concerning deforestation in the Amazon region. Since president Bolsonaro initially refused to accept the G7 countries' offer of help to fight the forest fires in the Amazon in August 2019, Brazil's governors had feared international punitive measures [76]. Within this context, afraid of the implications of the neglecting attitude from the national government and its aggressive promotion of extractivist production policies for the Amazon; Barbalho (Governor of Para) said: "I think we should now address our problems and send a signal to the world of environmental diplomacy because it is fundamental to (our) agriculture. Otherwise, we will suffer serious damage to our image, which is already a cause for concern." [76].

To understand the rate of deforestation concerning the country's total area, Brazils' forest area was around 67% of the territory in 1990 and only around 60% in 2010 [91]. According to Brazil's National Space Research Institute [92], which is publishing the official numbers of rainforest deforestation, estimates around 10,129 km2 for the period from August 2018 to July 2019, which is 3.8% higher than the government estimated in November 2019 (**Figure 6**). This dynamic is aggravated by the fact that the rainforest's clearing will prolong the drought periods [41]. This behavior creates a vicious circle because, with increasing periods of drought, the effect of self-reinforcing forest loss would occur, estimating that the self-reinforcing forest loss could cause up to 10–13% additional rainforest death [94].

Despite these warnings, the Brazilian government does not seem to care about international pressure to reduce or even wholly refrain from clearing [76]. Evidence of this challenging - and even displacing - attitude is the fact that the Brazilian government is planning to step up its deforestation efforts. Ricardo Salles (current Brazilian Minister of the Environment) wants to take advantage of the COVIT-19 pandemic to change and simplify rainforest deforestation regulations so that mining, agroindustry, and lumberjacks would get even easier and legal access to the rainforest [30]. INPE [92] has accordingly established a record number of 1200 km<sup>2</sup> of deforestation from January to April 2020; this is over 50% more than in the same period in 2019.

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**9. Final remarks**

**Figure 6.**

*Quilombo Communities and Opportunities for Market-Driven Mechanisms for the Protection…*

In July 2020, 39 Brazilian companies, including some of the country's largest, have started to build up further pressure on the region - towards refraining the deforestation in the Amazon. The reason for the companies' reaction is that their international investors are threatening to withdraw their funds if the Brazilian government does not stop the rapid destruction of the country's forests [45]. Relevant to the case of the north and northeast of Brazil, Coe et al. [41] say that "…indigenous lands, sustainable-use production forests and reserves, and strictly protected forests…" are core elements of rainforest conservation. Especially Amazon's traditional

*Monthly deforestation alert data 2008–2020 plus yearly data 1988–2019 (from [93]). Note the peaks on the years 1995 and 2004 and their coincidence with the period of expansion of the green frontier, and the IIRSA* 

*plan for the development of big projects of infrastructure in the Amazon region.*

peoples are rainforest protectors, as they live in and from the rainforest [25].

seem to be of practical use for the preservation of the rainforest. For instance, cultural practices that do not demand large extensions of territory and do not substantially affect the forest and its biodiversity. In particular, the Quilombola communities are of interest due to their focal ubication in the north of the Amazon, their family structure, and their forms of use of the land; concentrated in the production of food, the development of crops, and harvest of Amazon fruits (e.g., Acai) and the production of Honey. Out of these products, Honey seems to be the one that benefits the most from the existence of a healthy forest. Moreover, its development does not affect the forest and plays an essential role in its preservation (e.g., pollination services); Honey production does not compete with other agrofor-

est products; it actually complements and benefits from them.

Some elements of the economic activity of the traditional people of the Amazon

Economically, Honey has been documented in other communities as a successful product able to induce economic inclusion, even with the potential to bypass local constrains by targeting and gaining receptivity in international markets. Additionally, due to their production's biophysical characteristics, it has the potential to be certified as organic, fair trade, rainforest friendly, and many other

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.93976*

*Quilombo Communities and Opportunities for Market-Driven Mechanisms for the Protection… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.93976*

#### **Figure 6.**

*Ecosystem and Biodiversity of Amazonia*

objectives is questionable.

interesting.

10,129 km2

On the fact sheet "Bilateral Relations between the USA and Brazil," it is pointed out that both countries have, among other things, "…respect for human rights,…" as a shared commitment and refer to the Partnership for Conservation of Amazon Biodiversity (PCAB). The PCAB intends to strengthen Brazil's vast protected area systems with USD 80 million over 2016–2024, including Indigenous territories to support the "…sustainable forest-friendly value chains…" [89]. However, because of the previously presented policy of Bolsonaro [29, 33], and Trump's trade wars, which reinforces Bolsonaro's clearing policy [90], the achievement of the project's

This paper suggests concentrating on the German market as an export country. Firstly, because Germany financially values Brazilian Honey in its conventional and organic form. Secondly, Germany's political attitude is an advantage for Quilombola, as it is the opposite of Trump's policy indirectly supporting the deforestation of the rainforest. Thirdly, Germany, together with the EU, is facilitating the export of many products through tax cuts. Lastly, concentrate on the German market on the first-hand makes it is easier to expand the export market to other EU countries such as France and Italy, which also have high imports. Therefore, the German market is for the export of Quilombola Honey more

**8. Protection of the rainforest in the international trade**

damage to our image, which is already a cause for concern." [76].

In the international context, Brazil is under increasing pressure concerning deforestation in the Amazon region. Since president Bolsonaro initially refused to accept the G7 countries' offer of help to fight the forest fires in the Amazon in August 2019, Brazil's governors had feared international punitive measures [76]. Within this context, afraid of the implications of the neglecting attitude from the national government and its aggressive promotion of extractivist production policies for the Amazon; Barbalho (Governor of Para) said: "I think we should now address our problems and send a signal to the world of environmental diplomacy because it is fundamental to (our) agriculture. Otherwise, we will suffer serious

To understand the rate of deforestation concerning the country's total area, Brazils' forest area was around 67% of the territory in 1990 and only around 60% in 2010 [91]. According to Brazil's National Space Research Institute [92], which is publishing the official numbers of rainforest deforestation, estimates around

the government estimated in November 2019 (**Figure 6**). This dynamic is aggravated by the fact that the rainforest's clearing will prolong the drought periods [41]. This behavior creates a vicious circle because, with increasing periods of drought, the effect of self-reinforcing forest loss would occur, estimating that the self-reinforcing forest loss could cause up to 10–13% additional rainforest death [94].

Despite these warnings, the Brazilian government does not seem to care about international pressure to reduce or even wholly refrain from clearing [76]. Evidence of this challenging - and even displacing - attitude is the fact that the Brazilian government is planning to step up its deforestation efforts. Ricardo Salles (current Brazilian Minister of the Environment) wants to take advantage of the COVIT-19 pandemic to change and simplify rainforest deforestation regulations so that mining, agroindustry, and lumberjacks would get even easier and legal access to the rainforest [30]. INPE [92] has accordingly established a record number of 1200 km<sup>2</sup> of deforestation from January to April 2020; this is over 50% more than in the same

for the period from August 2018 to July 2019, which is 3.8% higher than

**228**

period in 2019.

*Monthly deforestation alert data 2008–2020 plus yearly data 1988–2019 (from [93]). Note the peaks on the years 1995 and 2004 and their coincidence with the period of expansion of the green frontier, and the IIRSA plan for the development of big projects of infrastructure in the Amazon region.*

In July 2020, 39 Brazilian companies, including some of the country's largest, have started to build up further pressure on the region - towards refraining the deforestation in the Amazon. The reason for the companies' reaction is that their international investors are threatening to withdraw their funds if the Brazilian government does not stop the rapid destruction of the country's forests [45]. Relevant to the case of the north and northeast of Brazil, Coe et al. [41] say that "…indigenous lands, sustainable-use production forests and reserves, and strictly protected forests…" are core elements of rainforest conservation. Especially Amazon's traditional peoples are rainforest protectors, as they live in and from the rainforest [25].

#### **9. Final remarks**

Some elements of the economic activity of the traditional people of the Amazon seem to be of practical use for the preservation of the rainforest. For instance, cultural practices that do not demand large extensions of territory and do not substantially affect the forest and its biodiversity. In particular, the Quilombola communities are of interest due to their focal ubication in the north of the Amazon, their family structure, and their forms of use of the land; concentrated in the production of food, the development of crops, and harvest of Amazon fruits (e.g., Acai) and the production of Honey. Out of these products, Honey seems to be the one that benefits the most from the existence of a healthy forest. Moreover, its development does not affect the forest and plays an essential role in its preservation (e.g., pollination services); Honey production does not compete with other agroforest products; it actually complements and benefits from them.

Economically, Honey has been documented in other communities as a successful product able to induce economic inclusion, even with the potential to bypass local constrains by targeting and gaining receptivity in international markets. Additionally, due to their production's biophysical characteristics, it has the potential to be certified as organic, fair trade, rainforest friendly, and many other

certification schemes such as forest-friendly value chain. These certifications provide the possibility of better reception and value in some international markets. However, the development of such initiatives in Para presents some challenges: the formalization of these communities' land ownership and legal security is a significant deterrent to investment. Also, these communities' location in areas with difficult access and no infrastructure makes the logistics cost of developing a reliable provision to international markets too risky and expensive.

Politically, despite the current hostile environment under Bolsonaros' administration, it is evident that such policies are not sustainable in the middle/long-term. These practices depend on the prevalence of an ideology losing support both in the national and the international arena. Additionally, intense pressure is being made by international investors and governments from which Brazil depends to activate and support its economic development. This fact adds to the reaction of local governments in Brazil who are starting to act in opposition to Bolsonaro's policies as a consequence of the international pressure. Adding to these limitations is the fact that these communities do not have experience in international trade. However, historically they have proved to be adaptable and resilient. Also, considering the examples of other communities with similar products in Mexico and Brazil, it is reasonable to believe that this issue is not an impediment.

From the market perspective, there is an opportunity to position Honey in the international market as demand increases, particularly in the two biggest markets. In general, the case for Honey suggests that the development of commercial opportunities for traditional Amazon products, directly from the traditional people of the Amazon is not just feasible but desirable. Considering the potential for the development of socio-economic inclusion, the protection (and eventually the regeneration of) in some areas of the Amazon, and preserving the culture and biodiversity; the promotion of plans to capitalize on these productive activities should be better articulated among interested parties internationally - especially from countries interested in importing such products.
