Copacol turns 62 and strengthens its expansion in agribusiness

The Consolata Agroindustrial Cooperative (Copacol) celebrated its 62nd anniversary this Thursday (23), consolidating its position as one of the main forces in Brazilian agroindustrial cooperativism. Headquartered in Cafelândia (PR), the cooperative brings together 10,6 members and 16,2 employees, integrating activities from the field to the industry.

By 2025, Copacol's annual revenue is expected to remain close to R$10,6 billion, driven by its production diversification and growing presence in the international market. The cooperative ranks fifth among the largest producers in the country, according to the Organization of Brazilian Cooperatives (OCB).

The cooperative's production structure encompasses 295 hectares cultivated with soybeans, corn, and wheat in western and southwestern Paraná. In the industrial segment, the cooperative produces 215,5 million poultry, 56,09 million fish, 602,6 pigs (delivered to Central Frimesa), and 13,3 million liters of milk annually. The brand's products are sold in 84 countries, with sales offices in Curitiba, Campo Grande, São Paulo, Brasília, Bebedouro, and Dubai.

Copacol collects approximately R$390 million in taxes annually, a figure that underscores the cooperative's importance for regional development. In addition to its economic activities, it maintains programs focused on youth development and social initiatives in the communities where it operates.

"Families have faced many challenges over the decades to ensure that new generations could enjoy better working and living conditions. Copacol has become the foundation of its members' businesses, which generate income and jobs in the cities where the Cooperative operates. And so, we share our results with everyone," says Copacol's CEO. Valter Pitol (in the photo above).

History and looking to the future

Founded in 1963, Copacol was conceived by Father Luís Luise and a group of 32 farmers to bring electricity to the countryside. Six years later, it began operating directly in agriculture and, in 1982, opened the first Poultry Industrial Unit in Western Paraná, a milestone that spurred the diversification of production into pork and dairy.

In 2008, the cooperative expanded its portfolio with the first integrated fish farming system in Latin America, which today processes 190 tilapia per day at the Nova Aurora and Toledo units, making Copacol the largest tilapia producer in South America.

According to Pitol, the cooperative is now seeking to expand its global presence and strengthen quality certifications such as ISO 9001, GMP+, BRCGS, BAP/SPS, HACCP, NCC Animal Welfare, and Halal, aimed at exporting food with international sustainability and food safety standards.