Investment in certified soy aims to increase productivity in Maranhão

The North Export Corridor Research Support Foundation – FAPCEN, located in the state of Maranhão, plans to reach one million tons of certified soy in this new harvest. This milestone will be possible because producers have been working more on rural properties, ensuring that their sectors, such as management, human resources, social projects, environmental and production areas, are aligned within the principles and criteria of the International Association for Responsible Soy ( RTRS).

Field practices seek soil conservation, enabled by the corn harvest and inclusion of the main forage crops, in which the Crop and Livestock Integration system results in high production ceilings in soybeans. The focus on property management and good environmental, social and economic practices translate these motivations of ours, known as territorial valorization.

To adapt, we are working in line with the precepts of RTRS, an excellent tool that has come to translate what rural producers who plant in the cerrados of northeastern Brazil think, do and want. It is notable that producers have been more organized and concerned about adapting their farms to obtain the sustainability seal.

Currently, approximately 25% of the area planted with soy in Maranhão is RTRS certified. We realize that the European market is increasingly rigorous and the Asian market is showing interest and, in the near future, certifications will be more than a competitive advantage, they will be an important facilitator for market access.

This territorial visibility causes producers to seek us out spontaneously, causing FAPCEN to be contacted to carry out work in other Brazilian states, such as Bahia and Minas Gerais, which further motivates us to continue developing our activities.

Despite the development achieved in some economic sectors, Maranhão and Piauí remain Brazilian states with enormous social differences. Rural properties and their communities remain far from large urban centers, showing that producers are always providing assistance to nearby communities.

The creation of MATOPIBA (Maranhão-Tocantins-Piauí-Bahia) was excellent for this region to be publicized nationally, especially the MATOPI region. With certification, this territorial visualization is recognized, making our lands more valued.