Buriti: Oil, Cosmetics, and Bioeconomy — The Palm Tree of the Cerrado that Generates Income

The buriti (Mauritia flexuosa) is the emblematic palm of the Cerrado and Veredas — and one of the fastest-growing cosmetic ingredients in the global natural market. Its oil, rich in beta-carotene and vitamin E, is a must-have ingredient in the leading lines of premium natural cosmetics in Brazil and around the world.

The buriti oil market for cosmetics has grown by 40% per year over the past 5 years. The pulp of buriti is the base for ice creams, juices, and regional geladões — products with a strong cultural identity from the Cerrado and Pantanal. The heart of buriti and its leaves have artisanal uses that generate additional income for communities.

When buriti is sustainably harvested from the Veredas of the Cerrado and processed with quality, this segment can greatly contribute to job creation and income generation in Brazil.

Join our strategic actions for the implementation of the best solutions in the Brazilian agricultural sector. Our activities, studies, and advanced research cover 20 chains and the 255 segments of national agriculture — from the grain supply chain to sustainable extraction, including horticulture, fruit farming, livestock, and much more.

The Innovation for Brazil to Produce More series was specifically developed to identify and implement the best available solutions in Brazil and around the world, across the 255 segments of the agricultural sector — with accessible technical language, updated data, and a focus on practical results for producers, suppliers, governments, and marketers.

1.  Opportunities for Small Rural Producers

How to organize the sustainable harvesting of buriti and produce high-quality oil

The buriti is exclusively harvested — it is not commercially grown. The organization of collective harvesting, quick transport, and processing near the Vereda are the factors that determine the quality and yield of the oil.

✔    Harvesting fallen fruits — full ripening and maximum beta-carotene content

✔    Processing within 24 hours — the oil degrades quickly with heat

✔    Cold pressing — preserves beta-carotene and vitamin E intact

✔    Organic extractive certification — passport for international premium cosmetics

✔    PRONAF Forest and Amazon/Cerrado Fund for extractive cooperatives

The E-Book 01 — Strategic Manual for Small Rural Producers presents in detail the best solutions for this segment and the other 254 of Brazilian agriculture — focusing on method, cost reduction, and progressive growth from Agro 1.0 to Agro 6.0.  Access now for BRL 99.00 →

2.  Opportunities for Micro and Small Local Suppliers

What equipment does the buriti chain require?

The buriti requires low-temperature oil presses and filtration systems — equipment that preserves beta-carotene and its characteristic orange color.

Solutions by area of engineering applied to the segment

Our activities, studies, and advanced research cover six major engineering fields — and the chain requires solutions in all of them:

Electrical Engineering and Computing — oil presses with temperature control;

Electronic Engineering and IoT — beta-carotene and oil quality sensors;

Control and Automation Engineering — oil filtration and clarification systems;

Mechatronics and Robotics Engineering — buriti pulpers; glass and amber packagers;

Renewable Energy Engineering — off-grid solar for Cerrado communities;

Data Science and Artificial Intelligence — traceability of sustainable harvesting for certification.

✔    Cold buriti oil presses for cooperatives

✔    Oil filtration and packaging systems in amber

✔    Off-grid solar for remote Cerrado communities

✔    Beta-carotene analysis for quality certification

✔    Consulting on organic extractive certification

The E-Book 02 — Strategic Guide for the Micro and Small Local Supplier maps, segment by segment, business opportunities — focusing on IoT, energy, automation, and specialized technical services.  Access now for BRL 99.00 →

3.  Opportunities for Municipal Governments

How the municipality can support buriti as a sustainable bioeconomy product

The buriti is the bioeconomy product with the greatest potential for cosmetic export from the Cerrado — and the municipality that protects the Veredas and organizes sustainable harvesting creates rural income without deforestation.

✔    Municipal cooperative for buriti oil with certification

✔    Legal protection of Veredas as municipal productive heritage

✔    PNAE with buriti pulp for school meals — high-value functional food

✔    Buriti Festival — cultural identity and bioeconomy tourism

✔    Municipal IDM: protected Veredas and volume of oil produced

The E-Book 03 — Reference Guide for Municipal Governments presents a step-by-step guide for secretaries and municipal managers to implement effective public policies for the 255 segments of agriculture.  Access now for BRL 99.00 →

4.  Opportunities for Small Agricultural Product Merchants

How buriti generates business for cosmetics, ice cream shops, and the natural market

The virgin buriti oil is the tropical cosmetic ingredient with the highest demand in the European and American natural beauty markets — with natural sun protection properties, deep hydration, and natural coloration. A 30ml bottle sold for R$ 40 to R$ 80 has raw material that cost R$ 2 to R$ 5.

The frozen buriti pulp has a growing market in artisanal ice cream shops in the capitals — buriti ice cream has an identity from the Cerrado that cannot be replicated with imported ingredients, and the premium consumer who knows the product pays a consistent premium.

Products with high commercial potential

The main products derived from this segment for retail and food service include:

Cold-pressed virgin buriti oil— premium cosmetic; R$ 40 to R$ 80/30ml;

Frozen buriti pulp— ice creams and juices from the Cerrado;

Buriti butter— premium body and hair cosmetic;

Artisanal buriti ice cream— product with Cerrado identity;

Buriti beta-carotene capsules— functional natural supplement;

Buriti straw crafts— complementary cultural product.

Merchant profiles and their specific opportunities

✔    Natural cosmetics: buriti oil — unique and traceable Amazonian/Cerrado ingredient

✔    Ice cream shops: buriti pulp for Cerrado identity ice creams

✔    Natural pharmacies: buriti oil and beta-carotene capsules

✔    Digital platforms: Cerrado oil kit (buriti + pequi + baru)

✔    Exporters: buriti oil for European and American cosmetics

✔    Emporiums: buriti butter and natural products from the Cerrado

Growth strategies for the local merchant

The buriti product that combines organic certification + Vereda traceability + bioeconomy narrative gains access to the premium lines of the largest natural cosmetics brands in the world — which pay a premium for ingredients with proven social and environmental impact.

The National Forest Development Fund and the BNB finance projects. SEBRAE subsidizes certification and export.

The E-Book 04 — Strategic Guide for the Small Agricultural Product Merchant maps 30 merchant profiles and details growth opportunities across all 255 segments of agriculture.  Access now for BRL 99.00 →

Innovation and Technology Network

By purchasing any e-book from the series, you become a member of our Innovation and Technology Network. Groups with 30 members can organize and fund in-person strategic planning events to identify and implement the best solutions available in Brazil and around the world.

✔    Small Rural Producers

✔    Micro and Small Supplier Companies

✔    Municipal Governments

✔    Small Agricultural Product Merchants

⭐  Special offer: I will provide 100% discount on the value of my working hours for the 10 pioneer events organized by 11/30/26 and held in December 2026. Therefore, the 10 pioneer groups will only cover the general expenses.

Sincerely,

Ivo Alves

CEO · Master in Electrical Engineering and Computing · Specialist in Innovation and Technology Project Management

Professor: IFPB and UFRN  ·  38 years of experience in Engineering