Since its inception on April 26, 1973,[1] it has been devoted to developing technologies, knowledge and technical-scientific information aimed at Brazilian agriculture, including livestock.

Embrapa is part of the National Agricultural Research System (SNPA - Sistema Nacional de Pesquisa Agropecuária), which also comprises federal and state public institutions, universities, private companies, and foundations, which cooperate to conduct research in different geographical areas and fields of knowledge.

Embrapa Units whose work targets national or regional agricultural product chains.

Embrapa units that work on basic themes that cut across several production chains, and support the other research centers.

Embrapa units that either work to perfect the agricultural production chains that are more relevant to a given region or biome, or to catalog, classify, assess, and conserve local natural resources.