IAC-Quepia Program reopens cutting-edge laboratory in the 54th anniversary of the Jundiaí Engineering and Automation Center

In the process of certification by the ISO 27.065 standard, the IAC Agricultural Protective Clothing Quality program (Quepia) inaugurates, on July 14th, its new Advanced Studies Laboratory. The ceremony that will formalize the resumption of operations at the unit, now fully readjusted to comply with the ISO 17025 standard, coincides with the celebration of the 54th anniversary of the Engineering and Automation Center (CEA), of the Agronomic Institute (IAC), an entity of the Secretariat of Agriculture and Supply of the State of São Paulo. The CEA-IAC is in the city of Jundiaí.

“This is the only laboratory in Latin America capable of providing quality tests on agricultural protective clothing (agricultural PPE) and research with national and international partners in the area”, celebrates scientific researcher Hamilton Ramos, coordinator of the IAC-Quepia program and also member of the International Consortium on Personal Protective Equipment in Agriculture, formed by eight countries, including the United States and Germany.

According to Ramos, the laboratory required an investment of R$1,2 million, raised from the private sector with the support of Fundag – Agricultural Research Support Foundation. From now on, he emphasizes, the laboratory will have results audited and guaranteed by ISO 17025, which constitutes the International Standardization Organization standard for laboratory quality.

“The expectation is to continue transferring technology and evolution in the development of resources for the effective protection of workers applying agrochemicals in Brazilian and global agriculture, now supported by an international certification of results”, adds Ramos.

Official ceremony and revolutionary studies

According to Hamilton Ramos, the opening of the laboratory, as well as the official ceremony that will mark the 54th anniversary of the CEA, should be attended by authorities from the Jundiaí region, agricultural producers who are partners of the research center, agribusiness companies and the Secretary of Agriculture and Supply of the State of SP, Antonio Julio Junqueira de Queiroz.