Scientific Computing in the Context of a Successful Agricultural Research Enterprise

Scale And Decentralization

Many wished that Embrapa would be small and only coordinated a research program run by the existing institutes and universities. This option was rejected because it was soon realized that, in a country of continental dimensions, the success of Embrapa depend on its size and an accumulated critical mass of researchers, diverse for talent, and branched throughout the national territory. It was understood that Embrapa needed to have the scale as large as Brazil and that it needed to have its own research network, so it could be direct responsible for the results, allowing it to be well known and evaluated on its own merits. This model would also allow for it to seek cooperation with universities, research institutes, private sector and overseas in a position of equals. Being large, diverse and decentralized, Embrapa would have conditions to represent the federal government in an area as important as agriculture and receive priority, both in the allocation of resources and with regard to institutional development.

It was very important for Embrapa to have a presence throughout the national territory. This presence helped to attract sympathy of the state governments and the National Congress. Embrapa has a marked presence in the Federal District, where are located its Headquarters and: Embrapa Technological Information, Embrapa Cerrados, Embrapa Vegetables, Embrapa Genetic Resources & Biotechnology, Embrapa Agroenergy, Embrapa Technology Transfer. The units in the Federal District are an important window of Embrapa. Being in the proximity of power, they have had important role in helping establish and solidify the image of the corporation near the central power and the international market.