Patron: IRINEU EVAGELISTA DE SOUSA (VISCONTE DE MAUÁ) Seat:66 Possession date:
ABOUT ME
Commendator Durval Parreira Neto stands out as a contemporary institutional leader in the promotion of artisanal chocolate as a strategic vector of economic, cultural, and territorial development. His trajectory articulates production, innovation, regional identity, and the creative economy, positioning himself legitimately in the field of applied knowledge and transformative praxis — the foundations that support his role as an academic of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences, Arts, History and Literature.
As President of the Compasso Association for the Development and Promotion of Chocolate, Durval Parreira Neto plays a central role in the organization, strengthening, and visibility of the artisanal chocolate production chain in the state of São Paulo, with special emphasis on the municipality of Poá. His institutional work focuses on the valorization of small and medium producers, the dissemination of technical knowledge, the professionalization of the sector, and the articulation between private enterprise, public authorities, and cultural entities.
As Director of the WORKCHOC – Loucos por Chocolate event, he has consolidated a strategic space for territorial development and productive innovation. The event brings together a food fair, technical lectures, specialized competitions, and international exchange among chocolatiers, contributing to the formation of a structured and recognized regional hub. The participation of the Belgian Consul General — from a country that is a world reference in chocolate production — conferred on WORKCHOC high symbolic, technical, and cultural value, projecting São Paulo's production onto the international stage.
The institutional significance of his actions is reinforced by Legislative Bill No. 814/2019 of the São Paulo State Legislative Assembly, which declares the municipality of Poá as the "São Paulo Capital of Artisanal Chocolate" and establishes Artisanal Chocolate Day in São Paulo, to be celebrated on July 7th and included in the state's official calendar. The bill's rationale explicitly acknowledges Durval Parreira Neto's role as President of Compasso and Director of WORKCHOC, highlighting his direct contribution to the strengthening of the local economy, gastronomic tourism, and regional cultural identity. Furthermore, his work has been the subject of motions of applause and congratulations at the municipal level, reaffirming the public and institutional recognition of his trajectory.
From an academic perspective, his work can be understood as an expression of applied knowledge production, in which intellectual leadership, strategic management, and social impact are inextricably linked. This conception broadens the traditional understanding of academic output, incorporating institutional practices capable of transforming concrete socioeconomic realities, in full alignment with the contemporary principles guiding multidisciplinary academies such as ABRASCI.
The symbolic dialogue between Durval Parreira Neto and his patron, Barão de Mauá (Irineu Evangelista de Sousa), reveals significant structural convergences. Just as Mauá stood out in the 19th century as a visionary entrepreneur, institutional articulator, and promoter of national economic infrastructure, Parreira Neto acts in the 21st century by organizing production chains, promoting innovation, strengthening cultural identities, and building sustainable bases for regional development. Both share the understanding that economic progress results from planning, knowledge, and conscious institutional action.
Thus, the trajectory of Commendator Durval Parreira Neto fully justifies his inclusion in ABRASCI's academic roster, combining institutional leadership, socioeconomic relevance, applied knowledge production, and contemporary historical impact. His journey stands as a reference in the dialogue between culture, economy, and innovation, reaffirming the role of artisanal chocolate as an expression of Brazilian identity, development, and cultural heritage.
