More Sorghum Movement is well received in Europe

Great receptivity and voluntary manifestations towards memberships. These were the first reactions that the Brazilian delegation present in France observed after the presentation of the “Movement + Sorghum” during the Global Sorghum Conference – Resiliency and Sustainability in the Face of Climate Change ), held this week at Cento de Eventos Corum, in Montpellier. The details of the Brazilian project were carried out by Vinícius Pereira Guimarães, coordinator of the Embrapa office in Europe (Labex-Europa).

The Movement was created in a partnership between Embrapa and Latina Seeds and foresees the participation and adherence of companies and public and private organizations in the growth and strengthening of sorghum culture. “Sorghum comes in as a great option when the chances of corn cultivation present themselves. So, sorghum can be used in areas, not only to recover degraded pastures, but also to be a strategic second crop,” said Guimarães, after his presentation.

The expansion of sorghum cultivation (area, production and productivity) and the integration of actors in the sorghum production chain (producers, industry and consumers) are some expected results from Movimento + Sorgo in the coming years. “The Movement will work in this direction, to be able to increase the number of participants and thus win over producers who are willing to take advantage of the opportunity that sorghum brings. We are practically starting all of this here at the Conference”, emphasized Guimarães.

“This presentation was an opportunity to show that we can be a great global supplier of grains, bioenergy, such as sorghum alcohol, and so many other possibilities”, said the executive director of Latina Seeds, William Sawa, co-creator of the Movement and member of the Brazilian delegation. “Our participation in the world conference here in France is being fundamental in joining efforts to connect the entire production chain in Brazil in aspects of cultivation and use of sorghum and its maximum diversity”, he considered.

“We met here some Brazilians who work and are leaders of other seed companies in Latin America. They were all happy and positively impressed with the creation of the project and signaled that they wanted to be part of it, Sawa said.

“I also believe that our activity at the conference can stimulate the union and connection of African countries in favor of another movement. Africa has a tropical belt as expressive and technically strong as Brazil. This will be a big deal for the global sorghum production chain and for research,” said the director of Latina Seeds, emphasizing the representation of the African community at the event.

Frederico Botelho, from Embrapa Milho e Sorgo, coordinator of Movimento + Sorgo, considers that the team's presence at the World Congress was strategic.

“The Movement’s participation in the panel along with global initiatives to encourage and promote sorghum cultivation was very important for the projection of the culture and the program worldwide. Certainly, the connections will serve to structure and leverage the + Sorghum Movement in Brazil”, said Botelho.

The panel “The global sorghum scenario: opportunities and challenges for research and industry”, included the participation of representatives from the institutions Sorghum ID (France), OZ Sorghum (Australia), The United Sorghum Checkoff Program (USA). Researchers Jurandir Vieira de Magalhães, Cícero Beserra de Menezes, Maria Lúcia Ferreira Simeone, Rafael Augusto da Costa Parrella, Simone Martins Mendes and Valéria Aparecida Vieira Queiroz, from Embrapa Milho e Sorgo, were also part of the Brazilian delegation.