Circular Sociobioeconomy in the Amazon: Grassroots Innovation for Sociobiodiversity Products

This chapter presents the concept of Circular Sociobioeconomy (CSBE), where the circularity of the bioeconomy is supported by strong interactions with the sociocultural context that creates, maintains, and manages the sustainability of the social-ecological system. Two cases from the Brazilian Amazon region are analyzed, involving two emblematic products and value chains considered part of sociobiodiversity: seeds from andiroba and murumuru, used in the production of oils for cosmetics, and the collaborative management of the Pirarucu fish. These products and production systems align with the concepts of Bioeconomy and Circular Economy embedded in a strong sociocultural context, and therefore with the CSBE presented here. These value chains have served as references for projects that seek to reconcile the conservation of the Amazon rainforest with the socioeconomic development of their territories and traditional communities. The promising results are only possible due to a model of grassroots innovation, which is presented to the reader here. In addition to these concepts and practices, this work also spotlights important reflections and challenges, including the need for improvements in public policies related to infrastructure, financing, and local capacity building, to maintain this important asset that is valued for its natural, ethnic, and sociocultural wealth.