CRAS Agro starts the 2024-25 peanut cycle

CRAS Agro, a business unit of CRAS Brasil and the largest exporter of peanut oil in the country, began the 2024/25 cycle with the beginning of seed germination and vigor tests. These seeds, which undergo selection, will be passed on to partner producers, who prepare the soil for multiplication. Planting will be carried out with varieties developed by the Campinas Agronomic Institute (IAC) and the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa).

CRAS Agro's objective is to plant around 500 hectares of seed fields, which should result in approximately 850 tons of peanut pods. The varieties chosen for this cycle include IAC 503, IAC 505, IAC OL3 and IAC 677, all from IAC, in addition to Embrapa 423, 425 and 427.

Rodrigo Chitarelli, CEO of CRAS Brasil, highlighted the company's confidence in the new cycle and satisfaction with the increase in the supply of seeds for multiplication. "We are very confident about this new cycle, and we are also happy that we have increased the supply of seeds for multiplication, which confirms that our growth is stable and vigorous. This helps to further improve peanut production, which is good for everyone , without forgetting that it is a crop that strengthens the soil", he stated.

In addition to traditional varieties, CRAS Agro continues to sell its new own seeds, launched in July this year. The IAC 503, IAC 505 and IAC OL3 varieties are certified and have varietal purity control, which guarantees greater productivity and better performance. These seeds, already known to producers, have different production cycles. IAC OL3, for example, is characterized by a shorter cultivation time, while IAC 505 has a medium-late cycle, and IAC 503, a late cycle, offers greater resistance to pests and water stress.

These characteristics allow producers to more accurately plan planting and harvesting, resulting in significant advantages for both producers and processors. The reduction in production costs and the increase in yield for the industry are some of the benefits that stand out, in addition to the possibility of competition in the distribution of planting areas, which are becoming increasingly scarce.

Another relevant point is the production of high oleic peanuts, which have between 70% and 80% oleic acid in their composition. This type of peanut offers greater durability to the oil and derived products, as well as greater resistance to oxidation, which prolongs shelf life. In the nutritional aspect, the high content of monounsaturated fatty acids contributes to the reduction of triglycerides and an increase in HDL, known as good cholesterol, making high oleic peanuts an advantageous option for the market and consumers.