The research focuses on the Sustainability of Agroecosystems and examines the productive dynamics within agroecosystems. The studies are directed toward developing technological processes for using raw materials derived from agroecosystems, resulting in high-value-added products and practices that mitigate environmental impacts. 

The research focuses on the Conservation of Natural Resources and seeks to generate knowledge through analyses centered on natural and human-altered systems' biological, chemical, and physical aspects. The studies aim to propose technologies, actions, and/or strategies that facilitate natural resource preservation, restoration, and sustainable use.

 Agriculture and Biodiversity. 

(dgp.cnpq.br/dgp/espelhogrupo/4857929569779746)

 This research group commenced its activities in November 2012 and conducts studies primarily focused on family farming, aiming to enhance the quality of agricultural processes and produce high-quality agricultural and livestock products. Additionally, the researchers are expected to contribute to investigations focusing on the environmental quality of agricultural and natural ecosystems. 

(dgp.cnpq.br/dgp/espelhogrupo/0029155809615049) 

The region where UFFS is situated is characterized by a substantial agricultural profile, predominantly based on family farming. Consequently, there is a pressing need to deepen the understanding of the social, cultural, technological, and environmental aspects within the area of influence. It is also essential to propose ecological production methods capable of mitigating the impacts of conventional agricultural practices. In this context, the Research Group on Family Farming and Agroecological Transition aims to generate scientific knowledge to enhance undergraduate education, support the establishment of graduate programs, and advance the processes of agroecological transition. The activities will encompass educational initiatives and the transformation of the current agricultural model. In this regard, the group seeks to investigate and promote agroecological transition processes within family farming in the Alto Uruguai Gaúcho area to improve the quality of life for rural and urban populations involved in these systems.

(dgp.cnpq.br/dgp/espelhogrupo/5517155838832399)

 The AGROEN group has the following objectives: 1) To generate knowledge and technologies in agroenergy aimed at fostering the economic, environmental, and social sustainability of family farming; 2) To contribute to the development of alternative technologies to the current energy matrix, with a focus on environmental sustainability; 3) To train human resources for the establishment of a new energy matrix. 

(dgp.cnpq.br/dgp/espelhogrupo/2351927515659835) 

The group aims to establish itself as a reference in studies monitoring the dynamics of wildlife in the subtropical region of South America, particularly in southern Brazil. The projects developed are intended to accumulate data to evaluate and analyze the relationships arising from the interface between environment and development and propose measures that foster environmentally sustainable interactions. 

(dgp.cnpq.br/dgp/espelhogrupo/5470796547059273)

 The research objective is to develop integrated activities to provide students with a qualified education in environmental history and studies through the collaborative efforts of faculty researchers. 

(dgp.cnpq.br/dgp/espelhogrupo/8455679642394352) 

The group focuses on orchard and soil management, irrigation, weed control, physiological behavior, and the adaptation of fruit-bearing plants to climates different from their regions of origin. Additionally, it engages in plant propagation and the evaluation of small fruits and native fruits. The area of operation primarily encompasses family farming, spanning the western region of Santa Catarina and the northwestern mesoregion of Rio Grande do Sul. This region exhibits a high degree of economic dependence on the agricultural sector. GP-FRUFSul aims to contribute to regional development through research, teaching, and extension activities, fostering technological innovations and encouraging the diversification of the production matrix. This approach seeks to increase income, generate new employment opportunities, support the retention of farmers in rural areas, improve living conditions, and promote regional development. 

(dgp.cnpq.br/dgp/espelhogrupo/8440486061649448) 

The group aims to develop technologies, processes, and applications in waste management and environmental geotechnics to disseminate knowledge to the scientific community. Activities are performed in the following laboratories at UFFS - Campus Erechim: the Laboratory for the Use and Characterization of Solid Waste, the Environmental Geotechnics Laboratory, the Soil Laboratory, the Materials, Structure, and Restoration Laboratory, and the Effluents and Waste Laboratory. 

(dgp.cnpq.br/dgp/espelhogrupo/4097539473016682) 

Water availability has emerged as a critical issue for present and future societies. The primary objectives of this group are to study the interactions between the atmosphere, water availability in surface and subsurface systems, and the morphodynamical processes resulting from land use and occupation. Specifically, the group aims to: a) Investigate climatic dynamics, its variability, and the occurrence of climate change; b) Assess water availability on the surface and subsurface through hydrological measurements and experiments; c) Examine environmental changes in geomorphological systems and their interrelationships with climate change; d) Analyze temporal and spatial changes in land use and occupation and their connections to the hydrological dynamics of watersheds; and e) Conduct studies on the impacts of environmental changes, with an emphasis on the conditions of vulnerability faced by society. 

(dgp.cnpq.br/dgp/espelhogrupo/1583540731234800) 

The study of the influence of agricultural activities on environmental systems, particularly concerning potential degradation or adopting more sustainable practices to mitigate environmental impacts, represents a strategic approach to achieving quantity and quality in agricultural production. This is especially relevant in the current agrarian context, where society demands safe food, and producers seek to minimize costs while maximizing economic returns. Data obtained from each research line within the group will enhance understanding of agricultural production systems in the Alto Uruguai region of Rio Grande do Sul. Studies that integrate production and environmental conservation efforts to improve available resources—particularly in threatened ecosystems—are essential for advancing knowledge and preserving the natural environment. By acquiring more information about species, it becomes possible to better understand the processes related to the generation and maintenance of biodiversity. The findings from this project will enable the monitoring, management, and utilization of biodiversity for various purposes. Areas and species of greatest conservation significance will be identified as a natural outcome. The data collected will allow for estimating major significant impacts on biodiversity, both temporally and spatially. Furthermore, the results will provide a scientific basis for decision-making in development projects, particularly those grounded in sustainability principles. These contributions will be disseminated through scientific and outreach publications and the production of theses, dissertations, book chapters, and books.

 Conservation Biology 

(http://dgp.cnpq.br/dgp/espelhogrupo/798135 

Establishing conservation priorities is a global endeavor; however, decision-making largely depends on knowledge of biodiversity and the prior completion of regional and/or local assessments. Many ecosystems remain poorly understood in terms of their biodiversity. In this context, the Conservation Biology Research Group aims to investigate the impacts of human activities on species, communities, and ecosystems within wildlife and propose practical measures to prevent species extinction and reintegrate them into their ecosystems. This is achieved using tools from Ecology, Zoology, and Genetics. Additionally, the group seeks to explore biodiversity using molecular analyses to elucidate key aspects of species biology and to understand factors related to gene flow and genetic variability in species and natural populations.