The Program has the following Areas of Concentration:

1 – AGROBIOLOGY:

Studies on ecology, characterization of organisms, processes involving soil and rhizosphere organisms and their interactions with vegetable species in the agrosystems. Development of systems that consider the biological component in the production of crops of economic interest for Mercosur.

Research lines:

• ORGANISMS: IDENTIFICATION, PHYSIOLOGY, BIOCHEMISTRY AND INTERACTION WITH VEGETABLES: Microorganisms and edaphic fauna, identification and interaction in the soil and with important agricultural species in Mercosul. Studies on gene expression, molecular biology, biochemical processes and physiological behavior applied to NBF and vegetal growth.
• TECHNOLOGY FOR THE PRODUCTION OF CROPS OF AGRICULTURAL INTEREST FOR MERCOSUR: Study of the main vegetable species of economic interest for Mercosur, for the development of sustainable production systems; crop, water and soil management; good quality practices.

2 – NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION:

Technologies and innovations applied to the study of soil and water natural resources and evaluation of impacts and potentialities of their use for agricultural and livestock activities. Use of modeling and remote sensing tools to predict, assess and identify risks and potentialities for soil and water resources, aiming agricultural production.
Research lines:

• AGRIMATHEMATICS: Application of mathematical techniques in the distribution and use of natural resources water and soil for agricultural planning. Model building and numerical simulation of agroecological systems. Statistical models in agricultural and environmental sciences.
• DEGRADATION PROCESSES AND ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATORS: Indicators of environmental impacts on soils and water and on degradation processes, such as erosion, salinization, acidification, silting of water sources and contamination. Edaphic indicators in environmental management, auditing and certification.
• REMOTE SENSORS AND APPLIED GEOPROCESSING: Remote sensing applied to environmental planning, soil erosion and vegetation indexes. Remote sensors and photogrammetry in agronomic and forestry applications. Geoprocessing applied. Environmental monitoring and evaluation: principles and application.

3 – ANIMAL PATOBIOLOGY

Development of methods of diagnosis and treatment of the main infectious, parasitic, nutritional and metabolic diseases that affect livestock and companions in Mercosur countries. The use of new substances of natural, synthetic or semi-synthetic origin in the fight against these main diseases will enable new treatment alternatives, as well as, the association with drugs already known allowing scientific and technological advances, including the registration of patents, for both countries.

Research lines:

• NATURAL AND SYNTHETIC PRODUCTS APPLICABLE IN AGRICULTURE: Natural products for disease control in animals or vegetables in agriculture. Phytochemical study of native fauna and flora and chemical taxonomy of families, metabolites and pharmacology. Synthesis and evaluation of biological activities against pathogens.
• HEALTH AND DISEASE IN ANIMALS: Determinants of the health-disease process in animals, diagnosis and evaluation of the mechanisms of pathological changes, prevention and diagnosis in the control of diseases. Detection and epidemiology, biology of pathogens and toxigenic microorganisms.

4 – COMPARED PUBLIC POLICIES

Comparative analysis between Brazil and Argentina, regarding the formation of agrarian structures, in their productive, territorial and social dimensions, in the institutional analyzes that refer to the formulation and implementation matrix of public policies, and to the configuration of the social and political subjects that compete for the orientation and appropriation of these public policies.

Research lines:

• REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND LOCAL PRODUCTIVE ARRANGEMENT: LPAs and Development: a comparative study of Brazilian and Argentine experiences. Social management in the establishment of public policies. Organizational analysis: perspectives in Mercosur.