Ciência a MesaCast - application of plant breeding biotechnology of citrus, coffee and sugar cane.

Abstract

Ciência a MesaCast is a journalistic research proposal aimed at disseminating the project "Biotechnological and Genomic Strategies for Quality, Productivity, and Sustainable Management of Citrus, Coffee, and Sugarcane in the State of São Paulo (CCD-CROP-IAC)" (Process: 20/07045-3). The proposal aims to create a podcast with a unique approach, simplifying the application of biotechnology in the cultivation of citrus, coffee, and sugarcane-three crops so prevalent in our daily lives. We will showcase the importance of researchers and agricultural science as an essential part of the food system, going beyond conventional narratives about science and delving deeply into the relationship between research and food production. Since September 2021, CCD-CROP-IAC (https://www.iac-crop.org.br/) has expanded its scientific and technological base through research to address the main problems impacting sustainability in the production of citrus, sugarcane, and coffee in Brazil. In its two years of existence, the project has gained significant visibility in the academic community, with results presented at national and international events and conferences, as well as the publication of articles in high-impact scientific journals. With the aim of sharing the knowledge generated in academia with society, the @ccdcropiac page was created in August 2023 on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn, connecting society to the researchers and work of CCD-CROP-IAC. The Science at the TableCast podcast project will be supervised by researcher Dr. Alessandra Alves de Souza, the principal researcher and communication lead at CCD-CROP-IAC. Dr. Alessandra has made significant contributions to the training of new science communicators, including scientific outreach activities in her graduate course affiliated with the Agronomic Institute (IAC) and UNICAMP, as well as encouraging her students to participate in science communication competitions such as FameLab Brazil. The project will also receive support from the Descascando a Ciência team-a scientific outreach channel that has been promoting agricultural science for 8 years through the production of accessible content for the general public on both the blog (48 thousand accesses in 2023) and social media, reaching 20 thousand people per month. Since its inception, Descascando a Ciência has been a partner of Dr. Alessandra, assisting her in guiding her students.We hope to disseminate the project's research to an even larger audience, simplifying biotechnology, improving its understanding, and increasing the population's acceptance of these technologies by uniquely connecting them to the foods they consume, their origin, and sustainability.