Abstract Half of the territory in Rio de Janeiro (RJ) state is composed of degraded areas. This work evaluated the profile, distribution, and production capacity of plant nurseries in RJ which produce forest seedlings, as well as their species’ richness. The potential to meet the increased demand arising from environmental commitments in different hydrographic regions was also analyzed. We identified 81 active forest seedling nurseries and 73 of them participated in our interview, by adopting a regional survey. Nearly one-third of the nurseries closed down in this region in the last decade. A high richness of species in the nurseries (977 species, 99 native species/nursery) was found, representing 22% of the regional flora. Most of this species’ richness is exclusively produced by small nurseries. The current production of the nurseries is capable of supplying less than 1% of the potential demand for seedlings for restoring priority watershed areas in the state.

O Xaxim, vaso ou suporte utilizado para o cultivo de diversas espécies de plantas ornamentais, tinha sua produção realizada a partir do caule de plantas de Dicksonia sellowiana. Atualmente esta espécie está ameaçada de extinção sendo sua extração proibida por lei federal. Como solução, a Embrapa Agrobiologia desenvolveu o Xaxim Agroecológico, tecnologia inovadora, que utiliza o enraizamento do milheto (Pennisetum glaucum) para agregar o substrato e formar a estrutura do vaso. Com o intuito de uma gestão adequada da inovação procurou-se realizar estudo do impacto tecnológico pautado em parâmentros econômicos e mercadológicos mensurados via análises prospectivas. Nesta situação a avaliação ex-ante representa um componente essencial para elaboração de cenários prospectivos e fator orientador para a empresa geradora da inovação. Nesta pesquisa procurou-se realizar uma avaliação ex-ante da tecnologia do Xaxim Agroecológico dentro do proposto metodologicamente pelo INOVA-tec System v 2.0., pautada em indicadores pertinentes a invenção. Resultados encontrados apontam para a confiabilidade do uso do programa em avaliações prospectivas de tecnologia agroecológica, desde que sejam considerados indicadores adicionais, conforme a situação a ser analisada. O uso do INOVA-tec System v 2.0 para o Xaxim Agroecológico, demonstrou potencial tecnológico com cenário propicio para a inovação, desde que ocorram melhorias nos indicadores que compõe as dimensões ambiental e econômica.

The Xaxim, vase or medium used for the cultivation of various species of ornamental plants, their production was made from the stems of plants of Dicksonia sellowiana. Currently this species is endangered and its extraction prohibited by federal law. As a solution, Embrapa Agrobiology developed Xaxim Agroecological, innovative technology that utilizes the roots of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) to add the substrate and form the structure of the vase. In order to proper management of innovation attempted to make the study of technological impact parameter settings guided by economic and market measured via prospective analyzes. In this situation the ex-ante evaluation is an essential component for developing future scenarios and guiding factor for the company generating innovation. In this research we tried to carry out an ex-ante evaluation of Xaxim Agroecological within the methodology proposed by INOVA-tec System v 2.0. based on indicators relevant to the invention. For Xaxim Agroecológico, using INOVA-tec System v 2.0, demonstrated with a potential scenario conducive to technological innovation from occurring improvements in indicators that make up the environmental and economic.