Abrapa and Banco do Brasil celebrate technical cooperation agreement

The Brazilian Association of Cotton Producers (Abrapa) and Banco do Brasil signed a technical cooperation agreement aimed at strengthening cooperation for the development of solutions aimed at supporting the sustainable growth of the cotton chain. The partnership was formalized through the signing of the agreement by the presidents of Banco do Brasil (BB), Fausto Ribeiro, and Abrapa, Júlio Cézar Busato.

By sharing data, information and knowledge, the entities will seek to structure and model different conditions and financial incentives for contracting financing and generating resources to serve producers with certification and traceability of their production, promoting the development of ESG practices in the field .

Busato highlighted the importance of the initiative that endorses the responsible production of Brazilian cotton by granting the benefit of credit.

"BB's nod to cotton farming and recognition of our work is important. ABR is the most complete sustainability program worldwide, as in order to be certified, the producer must comply 100% with the Brazilian Forest Code – and currently only Brazil has this Code in force, in addition, it complies with all the provisions of Brazilian labor legislation and ILO recommendations. We started the ABR program 10 years ago and we are very proud of it. The fruits are being harvested with the recognition of our fiber worldwide", said Busato.

Abrapa is internationally recognized for promoting initiatives aimed at sustainable cotton production in Brazil, with emphasis on certification and traceability actions for producers and properties, in particular the Responsible Brazilian Cotton (ABR) program.

Banco do Brasil, the largest financier of Brazilian agribusiness and recognized as the most sustainable bank in the world, has a portfolio of R$286 billion serving the entire agribusiness chain, from small family producers to companies operating before and after the gate.