BP Bunge Bioenergia reduces dependence on chemical fertilizers in sugarcane fields

The rise in the price of fertilizers, worsened by shortages due to the war in Ukraine, has become a major challenge for agribusiness. At the same time, however, the search for more sustainable alternatives has accelerated. Since its formation in December 2019, BP Bunge Bioenergia has adopted field management practices and solutions that, in addition to improving the productivity and quality of sugarcane, have contributed to reducing external dependence on chemical fertilizer.

And it is with a focus on taking advantage of and filling the entire productive capacity of its sugarcane fields that the company has consistent investments in vinasse, a by-product of sugarcane processing. Rich in potassium chloride, the use of this residue in the form of spraying or localized application is already present in 65% of the company's 300 hectares. In the current harvest, the expectation is that 80% of crops will receive the liquid compound and, by 2025%, it will be present in 95% of sugarcane fields.

“Vinasse, used as an organomineral fertilizer, is a strategic part of agricultural planning due to the sustainability of the product, gains in productivity and lower costs”, says Rogério Bremm, Agricultural Director at BP Bunge Bioenergia. “By replacing chemical fertilizer, we increased productivity by between 3 and 10 tons per hectare, extended the longevity of sugarcane fields by two years and reduced the amount of potassium chloride we purchased on the market by up to 80%.”

On another front, there is the exchange of phosphate fertilizers through the composting of filter cake (from the filtration of sugarcane juice) and bagasse ash (the result of burning to generate bioenergy), applied to 30% of the planting area . The company is studying ways to rationalize these organic sources as much as possible, producing organomineral fertilizers from these wastes.

In addition to alternatives based on by-products removed from the industrial process, BP Bunge Bioenergia is also expanding the use of biofertilizers. One example is the biostimulant Azospirillum brasilense, a bacterium that accelerates the development of sugarcane and which, in addition to increasing TCH (tons of sugar per hectare), helps save costs on nitrogen fertilizers.

“Sugar cane is a fantastic crop with great potential for sustainable use, mainly from its by-products”, highlights Rogério Bremm. “The price scale for chemical fertilizers encourages us to move faster, not only to reduce financial costs, but also to follow our purpose for an increasingly clean and sustainable operation.”