Bunge has announced the creation of a programme to support Brazilian farmers in the transition to low-carbon agriculture.
The regenerative agriculture programme will offer technical support, tools, products and services for farmers while supporting efforts to minimise GHG emissions. It will be implemented across around 615,000 acres in Central-West and Southern Brazil.
The free programme is set to promote growth in productivity and reduction of costs through the application of “cultivation best” practices that improve soil fertility and health; promote biological diversity; increase CO2 storage in the ground; improve water retention and infiltration in the soil; and enhance the management of energy consumption.
The programme consists of three steps which can be customised to fit the characteristics of each property. Diagnosis of the farm’s current regenerative agriculture practices is followed by the development of a customised action plan which is set to indicate the most effective practices to be implemented or improved. Finally, Bunge will connect participating farmers to supply chain partners who seek sustainable products.
Pamela Moreira, responsible for sustainability in South America at Bunge, said: “The demand for sustainably produced agriculture products continues to increase, and our goal is to provide reliable and specific data so farmers can assess the need to implement additional, corrective or improvement measures that support them on their regenerative agriculture journey”.
The programme has already seen dozens of large-scale farmers sign up, which Bunge says covers roughly 250,000 hectares of land in the Brazilian States of Bahia, Maranhão, Mato Grosso, Paraná, Piauí and Tocantins.
For the programme’s implementation, Bunge convened a team of partners who share tools and expertise with participants to support the adoption of regenerative practices in their operations, with a focus on monitoring progress and monetising sustainable agriculture.
Orígeo, a JV between Bunge and Indian manufacturer of agrochemicals and pesticides, UPL, is a key partner and will work alongside the farmers to provide information and technological tools to digitise crop data, ensuring the production of high-quality, low-carbon grain, using fewer inputs and less fuel.
Rossano de Angelis Jr, VP of agribusiness in South America at Bunge, added: “We are convinced that the program will further strengthen Bunge’s connection with farmers. With the expertise of our partner Orígeo, we have a unique model of support for farmers to ensure the productivity, profitability and sustainability of their business. Our teams continuously work to add value to our partners, and we are committed to fostering best practices across all our value chains.”
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