Agro with high expectations for bioinputs program

The prospect of producing bio-inputs on rural properties, reducing the agricultural sector's dependence on imported products, brought joy to parliamentarians and rural producers throughout the country. The approval by the Agriculture Committee of the Chamber of Deputies of the bill that creates the Emergency Program for the Production of Ammonia and Urea (Pelau) is seen as vital for the recovery and maintenance of biodiversity and soil fertility, favoring natural nutrient cycles. 

For the president of the Federation of Agriculture and Livestock of the State of São Paulo (Faesp), Tirso Meirelles (pictured), this was an important step in this journey. The project still needs to be approved by the Economic Development; Mining and Energy; Finance and Taxation; and Constitution and Justice and Citizenship committees before going to the Senate. The expectation is that this process will be voted on quickly, to ensure that producers can invest in more sustainable practices. 

“I was in Brasília, alongside members of the Parliamentary Front for Agriculture (FPA) and the Brazilian Confederation of Agriculture and Livestock (CNA), to witness this historic achievement for rural producers. It is important to understand that Brazil is the largest importer of agricultural fertilizers and this program will make the agricultural sector even more sustainable and independent of geopolitical issues that affect not only the delivery of products, but also the profitability of producers,” Meirelles stressed. 

To meet domestic demands, 95,7% of nitrogen fertilizers, 72% of phosphate fertilizers and 96,4% of potassium fertilizers are imported. The new law provides for the granting of economic subsidies on the price of natural gas used in the production of bio-inputs. Many of these can be produced on the farm, reducing costs for industrial products. They are in line with the demand for more sustainable products with a lower environmental impact, increasing acceptance in demanding markets.