At the opening of the second Agro Innovation Week, Tirso Meirelles, President of the Federation of Agriculture and Livestock of the State of São Paulo (FAESP) and the National Rural Learning Service (SENAR), emphasized the critical role of technological innovation in agribusiness. “We don’t know what innovations lie ahead. But we will create new technologies, continuing a tradition in Brazilian agriculture that began in the 1970s with Proálcool, reducing emissions by mixing ethanol with gasoline,” stated Tirso.
The event, held in October, focused on innovation as a catalyst for the potential of Brazilian agribusiness, offering panels, talks, hackathons, startup presentations, and networking opportunities across the agribusiness supply chain.
Sustainable Initiatives in Brazilian Agribusiness
One example of our sustainable technological initiatives that are currently changing the scenario in Brazil is Integra-Carbono. This initiative from EMBRAPA integrates production systems like crop-livestock-forestry (ILPF) to enhance land use efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This system captures carbon in the soil and biomass, promoting sustainable production that benefits economically both the environment and producers.
Another key initiative, RenovaCalc, assists in estimating the carbon intensity of biofuels, guiding producers to enhance the sustainability of their activities and processes. This aligns with RenovaBio, a public policy encouraging emission reductions in the biofuel sector, thus supporting sustainable competitiveness.
Finally, the Soil Analysis Platform leverages precision data to monitor carbon levels, improving agricultural practices and easing access to carbon credit markets. This platform is essential for measuring and managing sustainability in farming operations.