Comunidade Ribeirinha Santo Ezequiel Moreno: inovações sociais em torno do açaí relacionadas à organização ## Santo Ezequiel Moreno Community: social innovations around açai berry related to the organization

A pesquisa aborda inovações sociais relacionadas ao agroextrativismo do açaí na comunidade ribeirinha Santo Ezequiel Moreno (SEM), município de Portel, arquipélago do Marajó, estado do Pará. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi identificar e analisar as principais inovações sociais relacionadas ao agroextrativismo do açaí e que apresentam influência direta da organização deste território. O método utilizado foi o de estudo de caso e a pesquisa realizada entre setembro de 2018 e julho de 2020, os dados foram coletados com a participação dos ribeirinhos seguindo etapas da pesquisa, sendo aplicadas análises qualitativas e quantitativas descritas em forma de sistematização. Foram identificadas duas inovações sociais na comunidade SEM conforme Bignetti (2011) e debates que consideram organização como objeto e processo social, que estão interligadas através de ajuda mútua dos comunitários facilitadas pela autogestão de todas elas, além disso, apresentam o Fundo Solidário Açaí (FSA) como inovação social base em função do processo de construção que despertou maior organização e cooperação entre os comunitários. O Manejaí é uma inovação social que revela resultados da organização comunitária presente na comunidade Santo Ezequiel Moreno que transpassam o território e aplicam com êxito a ideia de territorialidade. ABSTRACTThe research addresses social innovations related to açaí agroextractivism in the Santo Ezequiel Moreno (SEM) riverside community, Portel municipality, Marajó archipelago, state of Pará. The objective of this study was to identify and analyze the main social innovations, resulting from the agroextractivism of açaí and which have a direct influence on the organization of this territory. The method used was the case study and the data were collected with the participation of riverside dwellers following stages of the research, applying qualitative and quantitative analyzes described in the form of systematization. Two social innovations were identified in the SEM community according to the outline proposed in the research, which are interconnected through the mutual help of the community facilitated by the self-management of all of them, in addition, they present the Fundo Solidário Açaí (FSA) as a social innovation based on the process construction that aroused greater organization and cooperation among community members. Manejaí is a social innovation that reveals results of the community organization present in the Santo Ezequiel Moreno community that cross the territory and successfully apply the idea of territoriality.

Competitiveness Analysis of the Acai Berry Producers of Northeastern of Para

The purpose of this study is to identify what the perspectives of competitiveness by rural production of acai are, from terra firme and várzea in northeast Pará. Region considered the one that produces the most acai in Brazil. The main objective is to describe a certain sample of producers and to identify and evaluate the competitiveness perspectives of this sample in relation to the competitiveness factors defined in the research, starting from the null hypothesis that there are no significant differences in perspectives between terra firme and várzea producers. The theoretical basis considered for the research is composed of an approach on agrichain and factors of competitiveness. The method used for the execution of the research was the Rapid Appraisal, where a semi-structured questionnaire was prepared for the agents of the acai production chain. The main key agents taken into consideration and characterized were: Producers of acai; intermediaries and representatives of some organizations.

Effect of Acute Acai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) Supplementation on Postprandial Glycaemia in Healthy Adults: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Study

Objectives Anthocyanin rich foods may ameliorate postprandial glycaemia. Postprandial glycaemia is associated with Type 2 Diabetes and a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Acai berry is high in anthocyanins and has received attention for its health benefits. However, human trials are limited. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of acai berry extract on postprandial glycaemia responses in healthy adults. Methods Ten healthy participants, aged 18–65 years (mean 33 ± 16), with a body mass index (BMI) of 18.5–24.9 kg/m2 (mean 22.2 ± 1.5) completed a randomized, controlled, double-blind, crossover, acute dietary intervention trial. Participants consumed either an acai-based smoothie (AS) containing 150g acai pulp or a macronutrient-matched control placebo smoothie (PS). The primary endpoint was blood glucose concentration (BGC) which was determined by a capillary sampling method at baseline and at regular intervals up to 2 hours postprandially. Results Consumption of acai resulted in lower mean BGC compared to placebo (5.38 ± 0.46mmol/l vs. 5.40 ± 0.63mmol/l), but this was not significant (p = 0.888), even after controlling for age and BMI. There was no significant difference in BGC incremental area under the curve (iAUC) for acai relative to placebo. Conclusions In this acute study on heathy adults of a wide age range, acai consumption was not associated with improvements in postprandial glycaemia. Future long-term, adequately powered intervention studies, assessing additional biomarkers of disease risk are needed to fully elucidate the benefits of acai to health. Funding Sources None.

Deception in weight-loss advertising: Newspaper use of press releases issued by the Federal Trade Commission

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulates advertising associated with dietary supplements, acting for consumers in cases of deception. This study examines the extent to which regional and national newspapers responded to 177 FTC press releases about deceptive claims associated with weight-loss supplements. Of 177 FTC press releases, 77 (43.5%) received at least some coverage in 212 newspaper reports; however, a relatively small number of releases accounted for the preponderance of coverage. Marked increases in news reports at certain points reflected FTC press releases involving multiple companies, new initiatives and the “superfood” acai berry.

Superfood: Value and Need

: Superfood is the name coined by the marketing industries to segregate the label of the food which is claimed to have an edge over the common food, increased nutritional efficiency possesses more amounts of antioxidants which lead to the prevention of many coronary heart diseases. The history and introduction of the superfood have been discussed through brief instances; nutritional analysis of some of the most popularly available superfoods like quinoa, goji berry, acai berry, etc. has been done. Some of the indigenous superfood nutritional benefits have also been stated. The need and value with respect to therapeutic and economic of the super food, is reported in the present review with the current and relevant data.

Validation of a novel multiplex real-time PCR assay for Trypanosoma cruzi detection and quantification in açai pulp

In Brazil, orally acquired T. cruzi infection has become the most relevant transmission mechanisms from public health perspective. Around 70% of new Chagas disease cases have been associated with consumption of contaminated food or beverages. Açai (Euterpe oleracea and Euterpe precatoria) is currently one of the most commercialized Amazonian fruits in the Brazilian and international markets. Therefore, it has become important to incorporate in the production process some procedures to measure out effective hygiene and product quality control required by global market. Molecular methods have been developed for rapid detection and quantification of T. cruzi DNA in several biological samples, including food matrices, for epidemiological investigation of Chagas disease and food quality control. However, a high-performance molecular methodology since DNA extraction until detection and quantification of T. cruzi DNA in açai berry pulp is still needed. Herein, a simple DNA extraction methodology was standardized from the supernatant of açai berry pulp stabilized in a 6M Guanidine-HCl/0.2M EDTA buffer. In addition, a multiplex real time qPCR assay, targeting T. cruzi DNA and an Exogenous Internal Positive Control was developed and validated, using reference from all T. cruzi DTUs and commercial samples of açai pulp, from an endemic municipality with previous history of oral Chagas disease outbreak. Thus, a high-sensitivity qPCR assay, that could detect up to 0.01 parasite equivalents/mL in açai, was reached. As of the 45 commercial samples analyzed, 9 (20%) were positive for T. cruzi. This high-sensitive, fast, and easy-to-use molecular assay is compatible with most of the laboratories involved in the investigations of oral Chagas disease outbreaks, representing an important tool to the epidemiology, control, and surveillance of Chagas disease.