PCT Guamá promotes sustainable agriculture and food security with composting and organic garden workshop

The Science and Technology Park (PCT) Guamá opened its doors this Saturday (29) to welcome the community on the first day of free workshops on composting and organic gardening. The initiative aims to encourage the creation of sustainable gardens in the urban area of Belém, contributing to healthy eating and food security, as well as bringing local communities closer to the institution.

Mrs. Izabela Santos is a neighbor of the Park and learned about the initiative through an active search conducted by the institution's staff. "I found out about the course because they went door to door, right? Inviting people from the area to participate. And I was very interested," said the 62-year-old seamstress, who has been trying to maintain a small garden in her backyard for some time.

"I plant various things that I can use in food. I have mint, basil, rosemary, and tomatoes. These are the things I plant. Green onions, chives. For example, my chives never 'took off', I don't understand why. So, when he came there talking about these things, I got interested and came to learn how I can take care of my plants," the elderly woman reported.

Also reserving Saturday to learn a bit more about how to care for plants at home was Mrs. Jonice Gomes. A resident of the Pedreira neighborhood in Belém, the retiree saw the activity as an opportunity to create her first garden at 62 years old. "I need to have knowledge, right? Because I don't really understand much about gardening, composting, and I still don't have my garden at home, but in the future, I want to have one because I like to plant some medicinal plants," she emphasized.

Teaching, research, and outreach

The activity this Saturday is part of a set of actions promoted by the Science and Technology Park, through the Guamá Foundation, which manages the institution, to reach other social actors beyond those directly linked to its ecosystem. "We need the surrounding community, society in general, to really understand what works here. Contrary to what many people think, the Park is not just for entrepreneurs and researchers. It is for society, it is for you," says the technology and markets manager of the Guamá Foundation, Milkson Campelo.

To restart the project, the institution conducted an active search in the surrounding areas, in addition to massive dissemination on social media. "The mobilization came from an active search, going door to door and mapping key actors within the territory. We did the common process of knocking on doors, talking, explaining, getting closer to the community, and demystifying the content that would be addressed, in addition to visiting schools and community centers that already have a history of action within the community," explains the technical assistant of the Foundation and co-creator of the action, Eduardo Soares.

Through digital media, the dissemination reached the Celso Malcher school, where Alberto Soares, a student in the Technical Course in Environment, studies. "My teacher sent it in the school group and I decided to participate because besides loving plants, I wanted to enrich my resume," he recalled.

Solid Waste Management Plan

The Guamá Foundation, which manages the Science and Technology Park, started in 2025 its Solid Waste Management Plan (PGRS), in compliance with Law 12.305/10, which addresses the National Solid Waste Plan and includes composting activities as a proposed solution.

According to environmental and sanitary engineer Eline Santos, "composting acts as the environmentally appropriate disposal of solid waste, which is one of the precepts of Law No. 12.305, of 2010, which also establishes the PGRS. Thus, today's activity, being shown to the public, favors people's understanding and also the community's involvement in this practice and in complying with this legislation."

Text: Ascom Guamá Foundation