Launched at the end of 2020, the movement was led by former minister Francisco Turra through ABPA and brought together industry and grain production sectors in southern Brazil.
A movement launched at the end of 2020 and that has already achieved results such as a 50 percent increase in the wheat harvest in Rio Grande do Sul, 70 percent of the same crop in Santa Catarina, and new possibilities such as corn planting in lowland areas in the extreme south of the country, was presented as a successful case during the International Poultry and Swine Exhibition SIAVS 2022, held at Anhembi Parque in São Paulo. The results were driven by demand from poultry and pork producing and exporting agribusinesses, scientific support from researchers focused on the nutritional equivalence of winter grains for animal feed, and the interest of Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina in increasing the number of harvests and agricultural productivity. The roundtable brought together leaders from the promoting organizations Brazilian Animal Protein Association ABPA, Embrapa Wheat, the Agriculture Federation of Rio Grande do Sul Farsul, and the Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives FecoAgro RS, as well as a representative from the industry.
One of the leaders of the movement, former minister Francisco Turra, president of the ABPA Advisory Board, moderated the debate, which also included the participation of Jorge Lemanski, head of Embrapa Wheat, Antônio da Luz, chief economist at Farsul, Sérgio Feltraco, executive director of FecoAgro RS, and Arene Trevisan, executive director of supply at Seara. Among the challenges highlighted by the leaders was the need to regain agricultural productivity, especially in relation to poultry and pork slaughter capacity in Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina compared to Paraná, for example, which already has two consolidated harvests supplying both domestic and international markets. According to the Farsul economist, some states have up to three harvests, which represents a competitive disadvantage. Increasing winter production will raise farmers’ profitability and improve the trade balance of Rio Grande do Sul.
Jorge Lemainski, head of Embrapa Wheat in Passo Fundo, presented studies on recent productivity gains in wheat and the nutritional equivalence of wheat not intended for milling for breadmaking, which is more resilient, for poultry and swine feed, with performance similar to corn, the main component of animal feed. This study was validated through a partnership with Embrapa Swine and Poultry in Chapecó. Sérgio Feltraco from FecoAgro RS presented data on cooperativism in Rio Grande do Sul and productivity gains during the winter harvest, especially following corn crop losses. Arene Trevisan from Seara highlighted the strong industry demand and the need to reduce logistics costs.
Turra emphasized the unique opportunity created by Brazil’s agricultural vocation and that of the southern states in light of the mission to feed 9.7 billion people worldwide by 2050. He stated that there is a global demand that cannot be ignored and that alternatives must be built to supply both the country and the world in a regenerative and sustainable way. According to him, this will only be possible through the unity of all sectors of the production chain. At the end of the session, the former minister presented commemorative plaques to the members of the movement.
The program continues with exhibition visits and lectures on August 11, the final day of SIAVS. Visit the event website at www.siavs.com.br for more information.
