Fapesp

FAPESP and the Sustainable Development Goals

News

Research funded by FAPESP aligned with the SDGs

News

Research funded by FAPESP aligned with the SDGs

Unlike the rubber industry, the Brazil nut industry in Acre, Brazil, does not pay for social and environmental services
SDG 2, SDG 11
Unlike the rubber industry, the Brazil nut industry in Acre, Brazil, does not pay for social and environmental services

A project in the Chico Mendes Extractive Reserve shows that rubber provides adequate income to sustain livelihoods and conserve the forest. However, nut collection yields low pay, which contributes to the adoption of unsustainable practices such as extensive cattle ranching.


Scientists are seeking patent for ‘green’ method to treat main waste product from the paper industry
SDG 9, SDG 12
Scientists are seeking patent for ‘green’ method to treat main waste product from the paper industry

Acetic acid, a component of vinegar, was used by researchers in the state of São Paulo to fractionate kraft lignin. The method produces nanoparticles with different properties, including UV protection.


New center will study endemic fungal diseases in Latin America
SDG 3, SDG 17
New center will study endemic fungal diseases in Latin America

FAPESP will begin supporting the Latin American Center for Medical Mycology, a global network of laboratories led by the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom, which also has a unit in South Africa and will soon open another in Asia. Over five years, the foundation will contribute approximately £ 750,000, while the British institution will invest an additional £ 1 million.


Overtraining: the cause of symptoms caused by excessive physical exercise has been discovered
SDG 3
Overtraining: the cause of symptoms caused by excessive physical exercise has been discovered

In tests with rodents, researchers from the State University of Campinas and their collaborators found that hyperactivation of the PARP1 protein after exhaustive training was associated with decreased performance, fatigue, and behavioral symptoms of overtraining. Animals treated with a drug that inhibits the molecule’s activity did not exhibit the condition.


Sensory-motor activity protocol increases reading speed of children with dyslexia
SDG 3
Sensory-motor activity protocol increases reading speed of children with dyslexia

A pilot intervention project involving playful activities that engaged motor skills and cognition showed promising results in improving eye movements and reading speed in eleven children with dyslexia.


Study resolves genetic controversy over iconic <i>campos rupestres</i> plant
SDG 2, SDG 13, SDG 15
Study resolves genetic controversy over iconic <i>campos rupestres</i> plant

Researchers at a FAPESP-supported research center have combined innovative techniques to determine the chromosome number of species of the genus Vellozia, typical of this montane savannah ecoregion. The result provides support for conservation programs and biotechnological applications.


Fishermen in Maceió, Brazil, have higher-than-average mercury levels
SDG 3
Fishermen in Maceió, Brazil, have higher-than-average mercury levels

Blood and urine analyses of the population living in the Mundaú lagoon complex revealed a greater presence of chemical contaminants and metabolic alterations that can exacerbate chronic diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension. These results underscore the need to monitor the health of the inhabitants and control the sources of contamination.


Droughts can reduce the caloric value of flower nectar by up to 95%, study finds
SDG 13
Droughts can reduce the caloric value of flower nectar by up to 95%, study finds

An experiment carried out by researchers from São Paulo State University on zucchini crops indicated that a 30% drop in rainfall would reduce the availability of calories in the sweet liquid that serves as food for pollinators, such as bees, by 34%, while extreme drought practically wipes out the resource. These results are particularly concerning for plants that depend on cross-pollination.


Researchers develop ‘vegan meat’ based on sunflower flour
SDG 3
Researchers develop ‘vegan meat’ based on sunflower flour

The ingredient, extracted from the plant’s seeds, is a good source of protein and has a neutral flavor and aroma, making it easy to use in food products.


Researchers identify protein essential for balancing bone tissue
SDG 3
Researchers identify protein essential for balancing bone tissue

Findings published in the International Journal of Biological Macromolecules could guide studies aimed at treating diseases such as osteoporosis.


Research reveals how hormone accelerates fat burning and promotes weight loss in obese mice
SDG 3
Research reveals how hormone accelerates fat burning and promotes weight loss in obese mice

An experiment conducted at the State University of Campinas showed that FGF19, produced in the intestine, acts on specific regions of the brain, causing the body to burn energy to produce heat; the discovery paves the way for new drugs.


Article presents innovative drug for controlling weight and blood sugar
SDG 3
Article presents innovative drug for controlling weight and blood sugar

In animal tests, the molecule developed in South America has been shown to prevent fat accumulation and treat existing obesity and associated metabolic disorders. Initial human studies have confirmed the safety of the compound.


New method makes it easier to obtain material for smart windows
SDG 9
New method makes it easier to obtain material for smart windows

Sodium and tungsten bronze nanorods have various applications, including use in devices capable of controlling indoor lighting and climate control.


Wild parrot species returns to its habitat in Atlantic Rainforest reserve
SDG 15
Wild parrot species returns to its habitat in Atlantic Rainforest reserve

The goal of reintroducing the bird is to restore the original fauna of the forest and its functionality. Supported by FAPESP, the project was presented at the Brazil-France Forum on Forests, Biodiversity, and Human Societies in Paris.


Research reveals specific type of rare genetic variation linked to obsessive-compulsive disorder
SDG 3
Research reveals specific type of rare genetic variation linked to obsessive-compulsive disorder

The study compared data from patients and healthy individuals from Brazil, Canada, and the United States. The results help paint a clearer picture of how genetics influences the development of OCD.


FAPESP delegation welcomed at the Brazilian Embassy in Paris
SDG 17
FAPESP delegation welcomed at the Brazilian Embassy in Paris

During the visit, a cooperation agreement was signed between the University of São Paulo and the National Museum of Natural History.


Science is essential for curbing global warming, forest loss, and biodiversity loss
SDG 13
Science is essential for curbing global warming, forest loss, and biodiversity loss

The assessment was made by Barbara Pompili, the French Ambassador for the Environment, at the opening of a forum at the National Museum of Natural History in Paris. The event is part of the FAPESP Week France program.


New and urgent museologies
SDG 10, SDG 16
New and urgent museologies

Researchers from Brazil and France meet at a seminar during FAPESP Week to discuss ways forward for museums in the face of the changes and challenges of the 21st century.


Amazon scorpion toxin kills breast cancer cells
SDG 3
Amazon scorpion toxin kills breast cancer cells

Researchers from the University of São Paulo have identified a molecule in arachnid venom that acts similarly to a commonly used chemotherapy drug for treating the disease; preliminary results of the study were presented at FAPESP Week France.


Fire and agriculture drive soil degradation in the southern Brazilian Amazon
SDG 13
Fire and agriculture drive soil degradation in the southern Brazilian Amazon

Study shows that carbon and nitrogen losses from the soil persist for nearly a decade after burning, and conversion to agriculture causes even more severe impacts.


‘Time is short. The window is closing,’ says Thelma Krug regarding the Paris Agreement targets
SDG 7, SDG 13
‘Time is short. The window is closing,’ says Thelma Krug regarding the Paris Agreement targets

At the 4th FAPESP 2025 Conference, the former vice chair of the IPCC stated that the renewable energy sector is growing faster than the fossil fuel sector. She said she has not lost hope that the global average temperature increase can be limited to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels.


Study identifies molecule in stingless bee propolis that can kill dengue mosquito larvae
SDG 3
Study identifies molecule in stingless bee propolis that can kill dengue mosquito larvae

Researchers have found a substance in propolis from bees native to Brazil that kills 90% to 100% of Aedes aegypti larvae. The compound, found in pine sap, is likely enhanced by insect processing and has the potential to help combat mosquitoes that transmit arboviruses.


Study of adolescents shows that the urban environment influences their sense of justice and trust in institutions
SDG 16
Study of adolescents shows that the urban environment influences their sense of justice and trust in institutions

Over the course of three years, researchers from the University of São Paulo and their collaborators examined the “belief in a just world” of 659 São Paulo residents between the ages of 12 and 14. The results highlight the importance of incorporating urban and structural factors, such as access to services and community cohesion, into discussions on citizenship and democratic development.


Representatives from FAPESP visit the CNRS stand at VivaTech
SDG 9, SDG 17
Representatives from FAPESP visit the CNRS stand at VivaTech

Delegation visiting France to participate in FAPESP Week learns about the instruments available at the French National Center for Scientific Research to support innovation and startups.


Researchers from Brazil and France are set to test new cell therapy for cancer
SDG 3
Researchers from Brazil and France are set to test new cell therapy for cancer

Scientists from the Curie Institute and the University of São Paulo are about to conduct a clinical study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a new CAR-T cell-based immunotherapy for patients with oculocerebral lymphoma; the project was presented at FAPESP Week in Toulouse.


News about research projects funded by FAPESP and articulated with the SDGs: