Brazil declares acai a national fruit to ward off 'biopiracy'

Acai has been a savory staple in the Amazon for centuries, eaten as a thick paste alongside fish and manioc flour. The dark purple berry went global in the early 2000s after it was reinvented as a sweet sorbet, often topped with granola and fruit, and marketed for its antioxidant-rich properties. Acai's active ingredients piqued the interest of food and cosmetic companies worldwide. In one case cited in parliamentary debates, a Japanese company trademarked the use of the name acai in 2003. It...