Global development, especially after the first half of the 20th century, began to demystify the idea that the sources of raw materials were inexhaustible on the planet, which required the search for a model of balance based on new social, economic and social demands. environmental issues and finding solutions to reduce the generation of pollutants, preserving and not compromising the use of our natural resources.
In this scenario, organizations from the most varied sectors began to direct efforts towards sustainable development initiatives, which has become a significant criterion for business strategy with results that promote the creation of value for brands, revenue growth and customer loyalty, that share the same purpose. In 2021, Opinion Box carried out a survey of 2.203 people, where 82% of Brazilians said they had sustainability “as an important topic” and 62% preferred to pay more for a product that harms the environment less.
Agribusiness by nature – and no pun intended – needs comprehensive natural resources to be able to produce on a large scale, during the cycle of the most varied crops, from soil preparation to the storage of products after harvest, and has been widely mobilized for adherence and application of technological sets that optimize all stages of the production chain and for the development of precise and sustainable initiatives in the segment.
When we use the term Agriculture 4.0, we highlight the immersion of agriculture in generating tools and techniques that harm the environment less and less, from the factory to the field, and demystifying the image that the sector does not care or invest in these issues.
In this scenario, it is important to highlight that the main actor to enhance these virtues in the field is the farmer himself, who increasingly understands the influence of environmental balance on the longevity of his business and the responsible use of his area of operation, such as Crop-Livestock-Forest Integration (ILPF) strategy that aims to recover degraded pasture areas with the use of different productive, agricultural, livestock and forestry systems within the same area.
At Valtra we have developed a series of initiatives in this direction, and today it is possible to say that our product line has taken significant steps to help reduce fuel consumption and GHG (Greenhouse Gas) emissions and improve soil health with reduced inputs, with benefits for the farmer and the environment at all stages of operations.
Among important progress, we now have electronic nozzle control and electronic ruler in the Series R sprayer tank, one of our launches in 2022, reducing the waste of inputs with 70% less overlap and preventing excess application that can cause phytotoxicity in the plant .
Adhering to the Precision Planting package five years ago, created for information management and less impact on the environment, has brought greater accuracy in planting, making it possible to save R$50 in seeds per soybean harvest (considering an area of 2.500 hectares). The Momentum folding planter, voted Machine Of The Year, inserts seeds perfectly into the soil without the need for wide furrows and has a weight distribution system that reduces soil compaction that can restrict root growth.
Our engines and transmissions also have a sustainable bias, combining power and economy. The AGCO Power electronic engine, factory approved by the emission control law (MAR 1), was developed for agricultural operations and designed to work at low speeds, guaranteeing 25% less fuel consumption, while the continuously variable transmission (CVT), in which we are pioneers, incorporates lighter, high-strength materials and increases yield in the field by up to 30%.
AGCO's goal, which owns Valtra, to achieve sustainable operations over the next five years is directly linked to reducing emissions by 20% and achieving 60% renewable energy in global manufacturing operations. The multinational's operations in Brazil will only use energy from renewable sources from this year onwards. The initiative includes the company's nine units in the country, including factories, distribution centers and offices, which consume 42 thousand MWh per year. This proves that we are on the right path towards the use of renewable fuels and renewable energies permanently in our portfolios.
When we talk about Valtra, the brand is one of the pioneers in the quest to develop products for the use of biogas (biomethane), a carbon-neutral fuel during field operations. In 2010 and 2011 we presented two prototypes in Europe with a four-cylinder engine, one based on the N101 model and the other on the T series, making the decision to produce tractors capable of using alternative fuels in 2013.
We are working and evaluating the conditions for implementing this solution in Brazil, we believe it is the one with the most possibilities for execution in the near future, but there is still a way to go and it is necessary to adapt the components in our equipment to guarantee the best delivery to rural producers and adequate infrastructure to generate gas from the fermentation of animal and vegetable waste. Another focus is on natural gas, a fuel with reduced emissions.
The factories where Valtra machines are produced globally have resource conservation practices, saving energy, emissions and waste, and also have a specific division for remanufactured parts. AGCO Power Reman offers alternative replacement items for the brand's models, in a quick, low-cost and sustainable way and with the same guarantees as a new part, but at a 30% lower cost.
Remanufacturing also contributes to the environment. The process consumes around 85% less materials, energy and water than manufacturing new components. Remanufactured products reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase recycling and boost sustainable development and job creation.
These aspects show that we want to become a reference for sustainability in agribusiness, supporting initiatives that add value to each area of our business, but with the greater objective of supporting farmers with intelligent tools that allow profitable and sustainable operations in the countryside throughout Brazil.
Alexandre Vinicius de Assis, Valtra sales director
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