The ash content was determined to assess the inorganic composition. Ash in a plant sample is the inorganic residue from the combustion of organic matter lost through volatilization or combustion (MdC et al., 2004). The ash content of I. edulis ranged from 28.3% to 32.3%, with an average of 29.58±1.60%. It showed lower values than the same species (44%) from another region, as reported by (Aguiar, 2021).

In the analysis of macro and micronutrients in biomass, it was observed that there were elements that serve as nutrients for both human and animal consumption. The main elements found in I. edulis seeds as well as Ni, Cd, Na, Pb, and Si were also analyzed, and no concentrations above the detection limit were found (Table 2).

The elements contained in the seeds are relevant for nutrient replenishment in the soil, either naturally or through the formulation of biotechnological products. I. edulis is among the species of nitrogen-fixing trees and may even have the ability to enhance the production of neighboring trees (Nichols & Carpenter, 2006).

The elements analyzed are present in various seeds of Amazonian fruit trees. However, their concentrations vary according to the species and edaphoclimatic conditions. In the case of I. edulis seeds, the values observed across the five matrices indicated a potential for these seeds to be utilized in biotechnological applications, owing to the presence of these elements in their biomass. Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, and the micronutrients boron, copper, iron, manganese, zinc, and molybdenum are essential for metabolism and are crucial in the tissue composition in organisms that contribute to biomass growth (Andrews et al., 2023). These trace elements can be particularly important in processes involving microorganisms, such as anaerobic digestion, where molybdenum, nickel, and iron may be vital for maintaining process stability and influencing biogas production (Yu et al., 2016).

Another example of the importance of Inga seeds biomass composition lies in their potential as a biofertilizer. Plants, like rapeseed (Eggert & Wirén, 2016), require these elements, as these nutrients can affect the behavior of microorganisms, enzymatic activities, and metabolic byproducts (Soltan et al., 2019).

The organic macromolecules commonly present in seeds are proteins and carbohydrates. In the analyzed samples, the average protein content found was 17.6%. This value is close to forage legumes, considered a source of plant protein, such as beans with up to 28% protein content (Naeem et al., 2022).

Proteins are complex molecules of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and other elements. They can be analyzed by CHNS elemental analysis due to their composition of amino acids linked together by peptide bonds (Ordóņez 2004). The presence of proteins in seeds is paramount for the organism that consumes this bioproduct because proteins provide essential amino acids that the human body cannot synthesize (Leone et al., 2016). Additionally, proteins can be important for utilizing the seed biomass in food composition due to their texture (Ribeiro & Seravalli, 2007). The protein fraction varies with the plant's maturity (Pinheiro et al., 2005). It is associated with enzymatic activity responsible for metabolism (e.g., lipases and lipoxygenases, enzymes involved in lipid biosynthesis) and biochemical cycles that function to form structural components of cells and complex organisms (Damodaran, 2017). Like other seeds, it can be a source of plant protein, even if it is not the main component of the seed (Ullmann et al., 2023).

Carbohydrates, on the other hand, are organic compounds produced in the photosynthetic cells of plants and are widely distributed, being present in both animal and plant tissues (Ordóņez 2005). Glucose, fructose, and sucrose, which are responsible for the sweet taste in various foods (Ribeiro & Seravalli, 2007), belong to this group. In the analyzed samples, carbohydrate content averaged 59.95%, making it an excellent source of carbohydrates, rich in glucose polysaccharides (Table 3).

When conducting a literature review for the last five years (2019-2023) , 23 research articles with “I. edulis” in their titles were found. These documents indicate potential plant uses (Figure 4).

Among the studies shown in Figure 4, there is a commitment to studying Amazonian species to obtain compounds with antifungal activity. (, 2019) purified and characterized a trypsin inhibitor from I. edulis seeds with potential application against Candida spp., including Candida buinensis and Candida tropicalis.

(Lima et al., 2020) obtained extracts with high antioxidant activity from the seeds due to the content of anthocyanins. They isolated an anthocyanin and a mixture of three anthocyanins. (Lima et al., 2022) identified several compounds with biological activity, including 16 compounds among terpenes, phenolic acids, flavonoids, and anthocyanins. These authors highlighted the high content of phenolic compounds, which are important antioxidants and inhibit rheumatoid arthritis.

Seed applications related to using polysaccharides have not been observed in journal databases for the last 20 years, which is surprising considering that the seeds contain 59.95% carbohydrates. Given the production profile of I. edulis, there is great potential for using polysaccharides, although it is not documented.

Many products extracted from seeds that could receive biotechnological use can be investigated for their chemoprotective and anticancer properties. Those products could become innovative, active principles in pharmaceutical formulations, cosmetics, and food. The products present preventive and inhibitory functions on the growth of cancer cells, with anti-inflammatory, gastroprotective, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and other effects, as shown for the seeds of Syzygium cumini Skeels (, 2022), Luffa operculata (, 2022), Eugenia stipitata Mc Vaugh, and Myrtaceae (, 2013). According to (, 2019), seeds provide plant survival and perpetuation activities associated with chitinases, glucanases, lectins, and thionins.

According to (Cotabarren et al., 2020), I. edulis seeds contain a serine protease inhibitor. A serine protease inhibitor implies a powerful tool to regulate critical biological processes, prevent damage caused by excessive protease activity, and develop therapies for various diseases. This inhibition process has applications in biotechnology, such as in the production of food products, where proteases need to be regulated to control foods' texture and other properties (Tavano et al., 2018). It can also have applications as a bioinsecticide (AO, 2014) and prevent immune responses by regulating proteases (Carvalho et al., 2023).

According to (, 2020), some species of Inga have already been studied for their phytochemical composition. The biological activity of interest to the pharmaceutical industry has been published for Inga marginata Willd (Álvarez et al., 1998), Inga goldmanii, Inga umbellifera (Lokvam & Kursar, 2005), and Inga laurina Kunitz (Macedo et al., 2011). I. edulis contains small peptides that act as inhibitors of proteolytic activity (serine), which can be a practical approach to deactivate proteases associated with various human diseases, such as arthritis, pancreatitis, hepatitis, cancer, AIDS, thrombosis, emphysema, hypertension, and muscular dystrophy (Cotabarren et al., 2020).

Starch stands out among the metabolites stored in I. edulis seeds, followed by proteins (Rodrigues et al., 2021). Starch and proteins are important for I. edulis seeds' biotechnological application. Extracts from I. edulis seeds inhibited 85% of multiple myeloma cell proliferation, demonstrating the significant potential of these seeds for developing new therapeutics (Ferro et al., 2022).

Another aspect to highlight is that some uses of I. edulis are not directly related to the seed itself. I. edulis stands out for its economic potential in reforestation, phytotherapy, energy production, and food. Its bark, pulp, and seeds are used in indigenous natural medicine and the landscaping of some cities (Pritchard et al., 1995) (Bilia et al., 2003) (Caramori et al., 2009). The scientific and technological exploration of the potential of these seeds is quite limited, with only folk knowledge about them. Research is crucial to driving biotechnological development.

This is corroborated by the high germination rate and extensive seed and viable fruit production throughout the year, as well as the fact that the populations of the Amazon region highly appreciate its edible fruits. This is why its cultivation is widespread in agroforestry backyards of local communities. In addition to consuming its pulp, in indigenous communities (Brazil and Ecuador), roasted seeds are used for food (Lojka et al., 2010) (Kinupp et al., 2021).

Our research found more than 58% glucose content in these carbohydrates, indicating a high starch content, which would be relevant for fermentation processes. Glucose content facilitates ethanol production using yeast (, 2022). Additionally, pentoses (xylose and arabinose) can be converted into ethanol using a Zimomonas mobilis strain, as (Khounani et al., 2019) demonstrated for hydrolyzed monosaccharides from safflower seeds.

In biotechnological processes, biotransformation involves complex processes that utilize various elements. In the seeds of I. edulis, iron was found at 47.61 mg/kg, which aids enzymes that drive metabolic reactions associated with biotechnological processes. Zinc (35.14 g/kg) plays a role in DNA synthesis and glucose metabolism, while magnesium is crucial for photosynthesis (, 2024). These elements may be necessary depending on the biotransformation process employed, allowing Inga seed biomass containing polysaccharides and proteins to serve as a substrate for new products.

Biotechnological processes that assist agriculture involve other elements found in the seeds, such as N, P, Ca, B, Cu, S, Mn, and Mo, which may be important for biofertilization. Additionally, molecules from the polysaccharides hydrolysis and proteins can have biostimulant functions (Ugolini et al., 2015).

Protein content in the samples ranged from 15.9% to 20.1%, which may have biotechnological applications, as recognized by (, 2019), given that the proteins of I. edulis exhibit antimicrobial activity.

The proteins and carbohydrates found in I. edulis seeds, when hydrolyzed into extracts by chemical, enzymatic, or biological agents, such as fungi or bacteria, generate monosaccharides and amino acids, respectively (Prado DMF et al., 2021). These compounds play a crucial role as biostimulants in germination, developing new products that can be produced from seed cake.

In a biotechnological development approach utilizing the biomass from I. edulis seeds, there is potential for separating proteins followed by carbohydrates. The proteins possess added value for health-related products, and subsequently, the carbohydrates can be used to develop bioinputs, biofuels, and other products.

Seeds collecting, seedlings production, and trees planting activities provide a significant environmental approach in schools and the involved community. These activities allow students and the community to understand the natural and artificial environment. Furthermore, the activities encourage acquiring knowledge, values, behaviors, and practical skills, enabling active participation in the prevention and solution of environmental management challenges (Dias & Salgado, 2023).

Pedagogical practices carried out in schools with the establishment of experimental forest nurseries have proven to be suitable for environmental education. They seek to instill new social values, knowledge, skills, attitudes, and competencies for sustainable, student-centered environmental practices.

The changes in natural environments in the Amazon, including those highlighted in the media from 2019 to 2022, have been intense, degrading biodiversity-rich areas and other natural resources. There is a need to involve students in the production of forest nurseries because of the risk of water shortages, wildfires, the advance of extensive livestock farming, and predatory and irregular mineral exploitation. These issues contribute to the extinction of flora and fauna in the Amazon rainforest (A & CM, 2022).

In the activities conducted in this research, an interaction was promoted between students from the technical course in Environmental Management at IFAM and the school community in the Amazon region. The activity aimed to create a sense of belonging and scientific understanding of such a meaningful action. This included the preservation of native species from the region and the empowerment of students to plant, consequently helping to address the environmental issues in the Amazon. Furthermore, the popularization of I. edulis planting can help in soil recovery due to the leaf litter formed and its potential to survive in degraded soils, fixing nutrients (Nichols & Carpenter, 2006).

Our environmental education work with I. edulis becomes more relevant when we understand that this species has been chosen for planting in degraded soils due to its high survival rate, good canopy development in the early years after planting, and ease of cultivation in nurseries, making it suitable for agroforestry systems (EP et al., 2022).

The concern for environmental education related to Amazonian fruit trees stems from the importance of raising awareness about biodiversity conservation and the significant role these trees play in addressing the socio-economic needs of socially marginalized communities and food insecurity (Vieira & Panagopoulos, 2024).

During school activities, the educational focus was on utilizing these fruits for children's nutrition as an alternative to traditional fruits. Nurseries are responsible for highlighting the importance of these fruits for nutrition and the care required for their seeds to ensure successful planting. Cultivating and ensuring food security in urban environments using native local species is a beneficial practice that is gradually forgotten as urbanization progresses. Environmental education is crucial in revitalizing the connection with forest food species (Albrecht & Wiek, 2021).

Therefore, this activity was based on the premise that the school environment is one of the first steps in raising environmental awareness among future citizens, engaging students with a healthier coexistence with nature (, 2020). We also consider that activities involving students can promote initiatives beyond the school environment. Certain species with potential for agroforestry can be studied for conscious biotechnological exploitation, balancing scientific and technological progress with ethical values and environmental concerns to promote human well-being and global sustainability.