Castrolanda begins construction of grain warehouse in Tocantins

In June, Castrolanda began construction on its grain receiving warehouse outside the South-Southeast axis. Located in the municipality of Colinas do Tocantins (TO), the new unit marks an important step for the cooperative in its expansion project for the Matopiba region - considered Brazil's new agricultural frontier. The warehouse is expected to be ready to receive the 2026/2027 soybean harvest. 

This is a turning point for the project: the main equipment is already in the final stages of delivery at the construction site, located on the BR-153 highway and just over 12 km from the center of Colinas, and the earthmoving stage has begun to be mobilized, taking advantage of the beginning of the dry season. The expectation is that in the coming weeks the work fronts will advance with the removal of the vegetation layer and then begin the soil movements and preparation of the industrial area's plateaus. 

“We are currently in the topography and team mobilization phase. In the next few days, we will begin removing the vegetation layer and moving soil in the industrial area, where the silo reception, drying and storage area will be located. The goal is to quickly clear the plateaus so that the civil team can lay the foundations. Everything is being carried out with technical planning and within the expected schedule,” explains Luis Fernando de Carvalho Santos, Castrolanda’s engineering specialist. 

With an estimated investment of 124 million, the unit will have an initial static capacity of 44 thousand tons of grain, with operations focused on receiving, drying, storing and marketing grains. The project foresees a modern, safe and highly automated structure, with two reception flows of 300 tons/hour each, totaling a daily capacity of 5 thousand tons. 

“We are very confident about the start of the works. The arrival of the equipment and the mobilization of the earthmoving represent the beginning of a plan that we have been structuring for months. Now, we are at the ideal time to advance the work, with drought and favorable soil, which should speed up the progress of the following stages”, says Diógenes Julio Huzar Novakowiski, Grain Manager at Castrolanda. 

Advances and technical management 

In addition to the earthmoving stage, other areas are already being prepared in parallel. The topography of the area has been finalized and the first ground movements are taking place in the industrial part of the project - where the reception and drying structures will be located. The next phase will be the clearance of the plateaus to begin laying the foundations for silos and hoppers. 

To ensure quality of execution at all stages, the project is overseen and technically managed by TÜV Rheinland, an international auditing and certification company that also worked on the construction of Maltaria Campos Gerais. “The presence of TÜV ensures that all contracted teams are integrated, qualified and in compliance with the standards required by the cooperative,” explains Diógenes. 

According to Eduardo Nobuaki Kozu, Castrolanda’s engineering supervisor, the construction site is in the installation phase and the construction company will be fully mobilized throughout the month. “This movement will boost the local economy, generating jobs and attracting suppliers from the region. Castrolanda’s arrival in Colinas is also positive in this regard: it stimulates regional development,” he points out. 

Strategic project 

The new unit will be a model of operational efficiency, with emphasis on the use of wood chips for drying, an alternative that optimizes biomass consumption and reduces environmental impacts. In addition to the storage structure, the project also includes an administrative office, warehouses for inputs and seeds, and an area dedicated to applied research in partnership with the ABC Foundation. 

The ABC Foundation is already working on experimental trials in Tocantins, offering technical support with information on cultivars adapted to the region's soil and climate conditions. Research work is essential to mitigate production risks and increase the chances of success for local producers. 

“This is a project that was born with a solid foundation in information, innovation and cooperation. We are building more than just a warehouse. We are consolidating Castrolanda’s presence in Matopiba with the same commitment we have in Paraná: supporting our members with safety, convenience, technology and a vision for the future”, highlights Diógenes.