Government of São Paulo, agribusiness entities and companies launch Milho+ SP Program

The Government of the State of São Paulo, through the Secretariat of Agriculture and Supply, Abramilho – Brazilian Association of Corn Producers and the companies Corteva Agriscience, Valtra (brand of the AGCO Group) and Yara Brasil launch the Milho+ SP Program. The announcement took place today during Agrishow.

By 2030, the objective is to increase large-scale grain production in the state of São Paulo by 7,7 million tons per year, to 11 million tons, in search of self-sufficiency between production and consumption, focusing on regions with potential agriculture and productivity gap.

Milho+ SP provides for the promotion of the adoption of technologies on small properties to increase local production and the production of corn by large agribusiness companies located in the State. The initiative aims to impact 100 farmers across 1 million hectares.

The initiative consolidates a productivity ecosystem, which involves different stages such as agronomic knowledge and ideal management for the crop, technological adoption in inputs and equipment/machinery, access to credit and insurance, training and connection with industries and trading companies to flow production. .

“This is an unprecedented initiative, in which the Secretariat of Agriculture and Supply of the State of São Paulo is proud to participate, with all its commitment, knowledge and partnership”, explains Francisco Matturro, Secretary of Agriculture and Supply of the State of São Paulo.

According to research carried out by the consultancy Horizon Company, the State of São Paulo currently produces 3,3 million tons of corn and there is an estimated local consumption of 8,9 million tons. The difference, 5,6 million tons, is now made up by the arrival of grain from other Brazilian states. Also according to the study, São Paulo has 15,8 million hectares for farming, with 5,4 million hectares already occupied by sugarcane cultivation.

Milho+ SP will start in the Northwest of the State, in regions that present aptitude and a positive scenario in logistics, climate and consumer market

Support for farmers

The companies Corteva Agriscience, Valtra and Yara Brasil have been carrying out training for technicians from the Comprehensive Technical Assistance Coordination – CATI, an extension agency of the Secretariat of Agriculture, on the best technologies and combinations in corn management so that it is possible to plant with the more modern cultivation techniques, improving productivity. CATI extension agents will take this knowledge to farmers, through training and technical assistance.

“Corteva supports the Milho+SP Program to promote the development and productivity of corn in the State and provide even more complete support to rural producers in the region, through an integrated portfolio in seeds, biotechnology, crop protection, biological solutions and digital tools. Along the journey, as we identify the need for new developments in technology, we will open up new challenges within Cubo Agro, an initiative by Cubo Itaú, a project in which Corteva is one of the supporters. Participating agtechs will be able to contribute, boosting innovation and bringing technological transformation to the field”, highlights Roberto Hun, President of Corteva Agriscience for Brazil and Paraguay

Furthermore, with the support of companies, rural producers will have easier access to inputs, equipment, services, technological innovations and lines of credit, aiming to meet and meet their needs in the field.

“Valtra has a ‘Farmer-first’ strategy that directs our focus and initiatives on the producer. Supporting the Milho+ SP Program is to contribute to the increase in productivity and profitability of the producer, development of rural communities and boosting the production of corn cultivation in the State. An agricultural scenario of constant challenges requires innovation and expertise to support farmers and, with our experience in extracting the maximum potential of agricultural machinery and implements, we promote efficient, quality, profitable and sustainable food production. Contributing to food security in the world through actions with local impact is fundamental”, says Marcelo Traldi, vice-president of Fendt and Valtra South America.

For Yara Brasil, the Milho+ SP Program will bring positive impacts to the entire sector. “Sustainability in the countryside goes beyond the way food is produced, with the best practices and inputs for a neutral future in carbon emissions, but also involves the profitability of rural producers and the construction of a solid and self-sufficient chain. In this sense, Yara has also invested great efforts in connections with private and public initiatives to contribute to the development of sustainable agriculture in the country and, at the same time, build new businesses for the countryside”, adds Deise DallaNora, director of Food Solution Innovation by Yara Brasil.

“In a similar model to the Prospera program developed in the Northeast region, Milho+SP is a concrete and decisive example of technical assistance and rural extension, focusing on the inclusion of small farmers in the production chains of modern agribusiness. The initiative promotes access to good practices and technologies, which transform agriculture that was subsistence into a professional business linked to the market. Through collective effort, it contributes to the evolution of the individual and strengthens the even greater viability of the necessary expansion, due to the strong demand, of grain production in the state and consequently in the country", emphasizes Cesario Ramalho, institutional president of Abramilho.