“Major results are not achieved without strong partnerships,” said Fernando Borensztein, OceanPact’s new business and sustainability director, at the start of the first MangueLab project workshop, held at Quilombo do Feital in Magé, Rio de Janeiro State.

MangueLab (Portuguese for “Mangrove Lab”) is a research and development project that brings together science, technology and traditional knowledge to transform mangrove restoration in Brazil. Conducted collaboratively by teams from OceanPact, OceanImpact and OceanPact Tech, the project positions itself as a model for social and environmental innovation, designed to promote mangrove regeneration at scale, with efficiency and lasting impact.

OceanImpact is an OceanPact business unit focused on developing ocean-based solutions. It is part of the Sustainability Department’s Blue New Business Area. OceanPact Tech is another business unit that develops technological solutions for the maritime sector, encompassing remote and digitalized operations, monitoring and analysis, maritime management solutions and specialized services.

During the meeting on January 26, different research initiatives currently underway were presented. These include the use of biological accelerators, genetic diversity analysis, stingless beekeeping, technology-assisted planting techniques and the development of robots and sensors, aimed at supporting operational safety and scalability.

The team was welcomed by community leader Valdirene Couto, who emphasized local people’s role in the MangueLab project and the collective spirit surrounding it. “This is happening in my community, and I’m very pleased by that. Dreaming together and achieving together strengthens our history,” she said.

With research advancing and alignment reinforced during the workshop, MangueLab now enters its operational phase, a decisive step toward making mangrove reforestation a more efficient, integrated practice focused on delivering real impact for coastal communities and ecosystems.