Light, Dreams and Roots: How Agrivoltaics Can Strengthen Family Farming and Expand Food Security

Every year, more than 20,000 seedlings leave the ALIAR nursery in Miracema do Tocantins and become vegetables on the tables of families facing social vulnerability. For this to happen, water needs to be pumped, crops irrigated, lighting maintained, systems kept running and, of course, the electricity bill paid at the end of the month. Since July 2026, a significant portion of that bill has been powered by the sun.

This is the “Light, Dreams and Roots” project, developed by Revolusolar in partnership with the Associação para um Futuro Melhor (ALIAR), with support from Instituto EDP. The project is based on a technology that is still not widely used in Brazil, but has great potential for application: agrivoltaics.

Established in the municipality since 2012, ALIAR develops projects focused on education, income generation, community development and food security. Its nursery currently produces more than 20,000 seedlings per year, distributing vegetables to families facing social vulnerability.

Agrivoltaics means combining energy generation and agricultural production in the same area, without one interfering with the other. Instead of competing for land, solar panels and crops share the space, support one another and maximize land use.

Solar panels provide partial shade for certain crops, reducing water evaporation and protecting plants from extreme temperatures. At the same time, vegetation helps lower the temperature around photovoltaic modules, supporting their energy efficiency.

This approach enables better use of land, increased productivity and reduced environmental impacts, making it an increasingly relevant alternative for rural communities and small-scale farmers.

Sustainable Energy at the Service of Agricultural Production

In the Light, Dreams and Roots project, the technology is being applied to ALIAR’s hydroponic nursery through the installation of a 4 kWp system integrated into the existing structure.

The energy generated powers essential equipment needed to operate the nursery, including irrigation systems, water pumps, lighting and other production processes.

In addition to electricity generation, the project includes structural improvements to the nursery, ensuring better conditions to expand its production capacity and increase operational efficiency.

The project was designed to go beyond the installation of solar panels. Over the course of 11 months, technical training activities will also be carried out for local leaders, workshops will be offered to the community, and the initiative’s social, environmental and economic impacts will be monitored.

This strategy aims to strengthen the community’s autonomy by enabling local residents to gain knowledge about the operation and maintenance of the photovoltaic system and expanding their ability to replicate sustainable solutions throughout the territory.

The expectation is that the initiative will generate lasting benefits, encouraging the development of a local skilled workforce, the dissemination of clean technologies and the creation of a culture focused on the conscious use of natural resources.

Expected Impacts

The main expected outcomes include:

-reduced electricity costs associated with the operation of the nursery;
-increased annual seedling production;
-more efficient use of agricultural infrastructure;
-reduced greenhouse gas emissions;
-strengthened food security;
-support for green job creation and the sustainable development of the community.

By combining renewable energy and agriculture, the project also contributes to increasing the resilience of production in the face of climate change, reducing the vulnerability of agricultural activities.

The initiative brings together different organizations committed to sustainable development. Revolusolar is responsible for the technical coordination of the project, while EDP funds its implementation and ALIAR contributes its experience working with communities in Miracema do Tocantins.

With the implementation of the agrivoltaic system, the expectation is to expand this productive capacity and transform the space into a reference for sustainable solutions that integrate agricultural production, clean energy and social development.

Projects such as Light, Dreams and Roots demonstrate that the energy transition can generate impacts that go far beyond reducing carbon emissions. When combined with social innovation, community education and the strengthening of family farming, solar energy becomes a tool capable of promoting inclusion, increasing productivity and driving local development.

By integrating technology, sustainability and community participation, the initiative reinforces the idea that the future of energy also depends on strengthening territories and building solutions that address climate, economic and social challenges simultaneously.

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