Exhibiting at Fi South America 2025

Instituto AUÁ is a Brazilian non-governmental organization (NGO) headquartered in Osasco, São Paulo, with a mission to promote sustainable socio-environmental development through the empowerment of local communities, preservation of biodiversity, and sustainable value chains based on native fruits of the Atlantic Forest. Since its founding, the institute has positioned itself as a key facilitator of ecological entrepreneurship, combining environmental stewardship with social innovation.

Company Background

Instituto AUÁ was established with the aim of integrating human potential and nature-based economies, particularly within the Atlantic Forest biome. Operating from Osasco, SP, the institute collaborates with rural communities, family farmers, indigenous groups, and cooperatives to foster economically viable and ecologically sound models of development.

Its name “AUÁ” comes from the Tupi language, symbolizing the spirit of the forest and life force, aligning the organization’s ethos with traditional ecological knowledge and cultural preservation.

Core Mission and Objectives

The core mission of Instituto AUÁ is to:

• Stimulate socio-environmental entrepreneurship.
• Promote sustainable food systems and regenerative agriculture.
• Rehabilitate degraded landscapes through agroforestry.
• Strengthen the value chains of native Atlantic Forest fruits, generating income and biodiversity conservation.

Programs and Initiatives

Empório Mata Atlântica

Empório Mata Atlântica is the flagship brand of Instituto AUÁ, showcasing food products made from native Atlantic Forest fruits. These include:

• Cambuci (Campomanesia phaea)
• Uvaia (Eugenia pyriformis)
• Jabuticaba (Plinia cauliflora)
• Araçá (Psidium cattleianum)
• Pitanga (Eugenia uniflora)

Products include jellies, sweets, sauces, liqueurs, pulps, and syrups, distributed in organic markets, sustainable fairs, and e-commerce platforms.

Socio-Environmental Entrepreneurship Development

Instituto AUÁ provides training, technical assistance, and incubation for rural and urban entrepreneurs engaged in sustainability initiatives, focusing on:

• Agroecological practices
• Forest restoration via agroforestry systems
• Community-based cooperativism
• Access to markets and digital branding

Cambuci Festival Network

The institute is the co-organizer of the Rede de Festivais do Cambuci, a nationwide network of events that celebrates the cambuci fruit while stimulating regional tourism, gastronomy, and conservation awareness across over 20 municipalities.

Specialization and Core USP

Instituto AUÁ’s unique strengths include:

• Ecological market innovation: Pioneering commercialization of little-known native fruits with conservation value.
• Community inclusion: More than 500 rural families supported through capacity-building and market access.
• Traceability and biodiversity indicators: Ensuring each product contributes to the regeneration of native biomes.
• Multi-sector partnerships: Engages with universities, public institutions, and private companies for collaborative sustainability models.

Financial Overview

As a non-profit, Instituto AUÁ sustains its operations through a blend of:

• Public and private project funding
• Product sales via Empório Mata Atlântica
• Technical consultancy services
• Partnership-based grants from institutions such as Sebrae-SP, Fundação SOS Mata Atlântica, and municipal governments

Annual financial turnover, based on public grant records and programmatic scopes, is estimated in the range of BRL 2 to 4 million, reinvested in social and environmental projects.

Impact and Outreach

• 20+ municipalities engaged through Cambuci Festivals and ecological fairs.
• 100+ tons of native fruit pulp processed since inception.
• 15+ agroforestry restoration areas established with productive capacity.
• 500+ socio-environmental entrepreneurs trained since 2010.
• Featured in sustainability platforms such as Ekos Brasil, Sebrae-SP, and regional agricultural development agencies.

Target Communities and Markets

• Family farmers and rural cooperatives in the Atlantic Forest biome
• Eco-conscious consumers seeking biodiversity-based products
• Public sector partners focused on sustainable urban planning and food sovereignty
• Educational and research institutions supporting ecological innovation

Operational Capabilities

• Processing infrastructure for native fruit pulp and food-grade products
• E-commerce channel via Empório Mata Atlântica
• Logistics and cold chain partnerships with local cooperatives
• Product development lab for testing and launching new SKUs
• Educational hubs for training in agroecology and forest economics

Certifications and Compliance

• Selo de Inspeção Estadual (SIE) – For food safety and commercialization
• Participatory Organic Certification – For agroecological farming systems
• Legal Registration with CNPJ – NGO under Brazilian civil society regulation
• Compliant with Brazil’s food security and environmental restoration laws

Customer Testimonials

“We’ve been sourcing native fruit products from Instituto AUÁ for over four years. Their impact on biodiversity and the quality of their jams and pulps is extraordinary. They’re not just a supplier—they’re a movement.”
— Partner Retailer, Organic Product Chain, São Paulo

Major Achievements

• Selected by Sebrae-SP as a model initiative in community entrepreneurship (2019).
• Co-founded the Cambuci Festival Network, now covering more than 20 municipalities.
• Developed first structured supply chain for cambuci in Brazil, recognized by Fundação SOS Mata Atlântica.
• Featured in national campaigns by Instituto AUÊ, Rede Ecovida, and Conexsus.
• Established Biodiversity Product Hubs in peri-urban São Paulo and São José dos Campos.

Instituto AUÁ is a leading voice in transforming Brazil’s socio-environmental landscape through community-driven regeneration, native species valorization, and the reinvention of forest economies that serve both people and planet.