CRAS Agro begins processing peanut seeds for distribution

The start of the new peanut cycle enters a new stage with the processing phase of the seeds harvested in the last harvest. CRAS Agro, a business unit of CRAS Brasil and the largest exporter of peanut oil in Brazil, has begun the process of removing the seeds from the warehouses and moving on to the threshing area, where separation by sieves and preliminary analyses are being carried out.

Certification will then be carried out, after analyzing the germination and vigor of each batch produced, for the issuance of official reports. The process should take a few days, and in the first weeks of October, distribution among producers will begin for seed multiplication and commercialization for the production of grains, which will be used in the next period for the extraction of peanut oil by the company.

Of the approximately 500 hectares of seeds planted in the previous harvest, of the varieties IAC 503, IAC 505, IAC OL 3, IAC OL 5, from the Agronomic Institute of Campinas (IAC), and BRS 423 OL, BRS 425 OL and BRS 429 OL, from the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa), approximately 64.700 bags of pods were harvested. Of this total, the production should be 600 tons of seeds, of which 500 tons should be sold for grain production and another 100 tons should be destined for multiplication. Another 10 tons will also be used for this purpose, coming from the new seeds developed with the IAC and Embrapa.

"We have achieved constant growth year after year and in this process it is essential to highlight the importance of our partner producers, who help improve the quality of our seeds and thus achieve better results in their crops. It is a win-win situation", says Rodrigo Chitarelli (pictured above), CEO of CRAS Brasil.

The importance of certified seeds

CRAS Agro constantly emphasizes the importance of using certified seeds, which are produced in accordance with the requirements set forth by law. To this end, they are subjected to the most rigorous testing during the development and generation phases. Their use allows for uniform crops and greater productivity. In addition, the companies that produce them must have the National Seed and Seedling Registry (Renasem). 

The company warns of the danger posed by illegal, or "pirated" seeds, which are those without any type of certification or guarantee of origin and lead to lower productivity, due to inferior germination quality, and enable the spread of pests and diseases between regions and properties.   

Higher performance

CRAS Agro works with varieties that perform well and have different production cycles. IAC OL3, for example, offers shorter cultivation times. IAC 505 has a medium-late cycle, while IAC 503 is a late variety, with greater resistance to pests and water stress, allowing producers to plan the planting and harvesting of their crops. All are highly productive, especially IAC 505, which has a higher oil content and good tolerance to foliar diseases, with an average cycle of 140 days from planting to harvest.

These benefits guarantee advantages for both producers and processors. This is because there is a significant reduction in production costs, an increase in income for the industry, with increased productivity, and the possibility of competition in the distribution of areas for planting, which are increasingly scarce.

High oleic peanuts contain between 70% and 80% oleic acid in their composition, ensuring that peanut oil and products last longer and, consequently, last longer on the shelf, in addition to being more resistant to oxidation. The richness in monounsaturated acids also makes the product advantageous from a nutritional perspective, since diets rich in monounsaturated fatty acids help reduce triglycerides and increase HDL, known as good cholesterol.