The deforestation of the Amazon must stop: when forests are cleared for agriculture, cattle ranching and logging, the damage is felt environmentally, economically and socially. But simply curbing deforestation is not enough: sustainable-development strategies must also improve well-being for local communities. Unfortunately, the global economy places a higher premium on meat and soya beans than on forests. Creating a new economic model for the Amazon forest will therefore take two transformations; both require science. One strategy is to add value to locally harvested products. A good example of such a bioindustry is the acai fruit of the palm tree Euterpe oleracea that grows in the Amazon. Until around 20 years ago, the dark berries were a food staple consumed only by the local population. Today, acai fruit is used in produce including food, nutritional supplements, cosmetics, dyes and industrial oils around the world. Annual pulp production exceeds 200,000 tonnes and contributes more than US$2 billion to Brazil's economy, second only to beef and tropical timber.
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