BP Bunge Bioenergia expands areas with localized fertigation with vinasse by 185%

To make the most and best use of all the by-products generated in the processing of sugar cane, and aiming for an increasingly clean and sustainable operation, BP Bunge Bioenergia expanded from 27,5 thousand hectares to 78,4 thousand hectares area benefited from localized fertigation with vinasse, an increase of 185% between 2019 and 2020.

Rich in nutrients, especially potassium, vinasse is used in sugarcane cultivation, allowing organic fertilization of plants, which reduces or even eliminates the need for the use of chemical fertilizers in farming. Furthermore, its use allows the reuse of the water in its composition to irrigate plantations, especially in the initial period of their growth.

"To obtain such a significant result, an increase of almost 200% in the area served by localized fertigation with vinasse, something notable throughout the sugar-energy sector, BP Bunge made significant investments in its structure for transporting vinasse between the plants and It was also necessary to invest in equipment and in the planned management of localized application", explains Rogério Bremm, Agricultural Director at BP Bunge Bioenergia.

The company aims to completely reduce the dependence on mineral fertilizers for its sugarcane crops, adopting organic fertilization using vinasse. Currently, three of the company's 11 units are close to reaching 100% of their own areas fertilized using localized vinasse. But the technique is used in six other BP Bunge Bioenergia units.

The company even improved the software used for this operation using the technology embedded in the machines, such as GPS and autopilot, which guarantee greater control and quality, through a more assertive application of dosages for the correct nutrition of the sugarcane field.

Only two of the company's units do not use localized vinasse, as they are dedicated to the production of ethanol and, therefore, the vinasse produced has a lower concentration of potassium, making it unfeasible to transport it for fresh application. In these units, 100% of the vinasse is destined for the conventional fertigation system via sprinkler, diluted in water.

Among the advantages generated by fertigation with vinasse are the environmental gains, through the full use of a by-product of sugarcane processing and the replacement of the use of other fertilizers, which leads to economic gains, as it eliminates or reduces spending on chemical fertilizers. Furthermore, it brings gains in productivity since liquid and localized organic fertilization has greater efficiency in relation to chemical products, thus increasing the TCH (ton of sugarcane per hectare) in the benefited areas and driving faster growth of the sugarcane field. Another gain is related to RenovaBio, with an increase in the generation of CBios (papers provided for in the National Policy for Biofuels, which foresee the capture of one ton of CO² from the atmosphere at each unit) due to the use of vinasse, as the calculations take into account account for the lowest environmental impacts.

In addition to localized fertigation, vinasse is also used in BP Bunge Bioenergia units diluted in water, in spray applications. In total, 71 thousand hectares of the company's sugar cane crops benefit from this process. In the end, between localized fertigation and spray applications of vinasse, around 150 thousand hectares are treated and benefited with the byproduct on the company's own crops.