Friesian cooperative farm is certified for soy and corn production

The Pau Furado farm, in Teixeira Soares (PR), for the third consecutive year, is certified as a property that adopts more sustainable production practices. Now, in addition to soybeans, it is able to sell corn credits, which is a more restricted niche. To acquire recognition, the farm, which belongs to Frísia member Fabiano Gomes and two brothers, underwent a rigorous audit carried out by an authorized certifier.

Environmental Specialist from Friesland, Jean Cesar Andrusko explains that the farm went through a complete checklist, with all requirements met and without any non-conformities. “The certification is valid for five years, but in the first three years it is evaluated, as if they were steps that the producer must climb”, says Andrusko.

In the evaluation, a document and procedure review is carried out, interviews with employees and stakeholders, assessments of agronomic, sustainability and social practices. Infrastructure is also analyzed, such as an area for hygiene, distance from the supply location, among others. 

Sustainability on properties is encouraged and planned by Frísia, which offers members in Paraná and Tocantins, states where the cooperative is present, the ‘Sustainable Farm’ program. The program brings together services offered by the cooperative that aim to increase the sustainability and competitiveness of the cooperative member. 

The project was “accelerated” with the construction of the malthouse in Ponta Grossa (PR), carried out by a group of cooperatives, including Frísia, for the production of malt in Campos Gerais. One of the requirements of industries purchasing malt is that part of the barley is sustainable, that is, with producers complying with a series of requirements (environmental, social, labor and infrastructure), which are made up of five levels.

At the beginning of this year, Pau Furado was the first property owned by a Friesian cooperative member to sell sustainable soy credits. The negotiation was carried out by the cooperative itself. 

A company located in Denmark purchased an amount, with each credit being sold for US$2,50, and another company, from Germany, purchased another part for US$2,80 each. 

Pau Furado has 784 hectares where soy, summer corn, beans, wheat, barley and oats are produced.