Castrolanda cooperative members achieve RTRS sustainability certification

Two Castrolanda cooperative members achieved sustainability certification from the International Responsible Soy Association (RTRS). The recognition is granted to soy producers who work with sustainable practices on their properties, developing actions aimed at the economic, environmental and social spheres.

The event that marked the delivery of certificates to cooperative members – held in Castro on Tuesday, May 24th – also served as a way for producers to discuss the topic with representatives from Castrolanda and the company Produzindo Certo, the cooperative's partner in the implementation program of sustainable practices.

Certification confirms sustainability processes on rural properties, adapting them to global development needs. With it, cooperative members become able to sell bags of soy with companies and markets that require certification, in addition to selling RTRS sustainability credits.

The cooperative members certified in this first stage were João Cristiano Kiers, from Fazenda Romi, and Jean Leonard Bouwman, from Fazenda Bom Sucesso. Despite this being the first time that Castrolanda members have achieved certification, the cooperative already has a program to help other members in the process.

Executive manager of Castrolanda's Agricultural Business Area, Tatiane Bugallo believes that the requirement for sustainable practices in agribusiness should take a path very similar to what happened with investment in Quality in industries - which was initially considered a differentiator for companies, but became be an obligation and market requirement.

“At first, we understand that sustainable certifications serve to access some global and domestic markets, but over the years it will be a natural requirement so that we can trade with large companies, which become increasingly more sustainable”, believes Tatiane .

At Castrolanda, the promotion of good agricultural practices and sustainable certifications is the responsibility of the Technical Assistance area, which must integrate the support and internal audit process through the agronomists who already serve the cooperative members. Technical Assistance Coordinator, Rudinei Bogorni explains that Castrolanda's objective is to provide technical and logistical support so that the certification process is increasingly practical and less bureaucratic for producers.

“We already have a technical team integrated into the routine of the properties. Our objective is to train these professionals so that they can assist members in relation to the requirements and adaptations that RTRS certification requires”, he explains.