UPL receives the Most Integrity Seal for the second time, from the Ministry of Agriculture

A global reference in solutions for sustainable agriculture, UPL Brasil had its work recognized – for the second consecutive year – with the Mais Integridade Seal, granted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (Mapa). The awarding of the seal to the company, which is one of the four largest in the agricultural solutions sector in the country, took place on February 23rd.

Delivered during the event at the headquarters of the Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil), in Brasília, the Mais Integridade Seal was established in 2018 with the aim of promoting, recognizing and rewarding integrity practices by companies and cooperatives in the agribusiness from the perspective of social responsibility, sustainability and ethics. Companies still need to commit to mitigating fraud, bribery and corruption.

"It is an honor for UPL to receive, once again, the Mais Integridade Seal. This renewal of recognition reinforces the continuity and strengthening of our global commitments to sustainability, social responsibility and ethics", says Rogério Castro, CEO of UPL Brazil. At the event, the executive signed a Pact for Ethics, Integrity, Social Responsibility and Sustainability and Appropriate Use of the Brand.

"An increasingly relevant topic in the world, the concept of ESG – an acronym in English that encompasses environmental, social and governance responsibilities – is the pillar that bases our work and our progress in the mission of helping the sustainable production of food for the population", adds Rogério Castro.

Minister Tereza Cristina highlighted, during the ceremony, that Brazilian agribusiness has increasingly been based on integrity, sustainability and social commitment. "Since we started the project, we have been fully aligned with good ESG practices," she commented, upon handing out the seal to 17 companies. "With great satisfaction, I salute all the companies awarded for their efforts in maintaining their honest management purpose even in the face of the challenges posed by the pandemic."

Good habits

The Apply Bem Program, developed by the Agronomic Institute (IAC) and carried out 15 years ago in partnership with UPL, was also awarded by the Ministry of Agriculture. The Mais Integridade Seal management committee selected the initiative as one of the three best Good Practices in the Social Responsibility category. The mission of the program is to change the behavior of rural people through training, for producers and employees of agricultural companies, in the correct application of agricultural pesticides in different crops. The program impacted more than 75 thousand people, free of charge, in almost every state in the country.

"We are very honored to have this important work recognized by Mapa. ​​After all, the model adopted by Aplique Bem, unprecedented in Brazil, is effective and essential for sustainable agriculture. The program with five itinerant laboratories that travel across the country, taking the class to the field, which allows learning to be consolidated through practice. The initiative has already been 'exported' to seven countries in Latin America, Asia and Africa", explains Liria Hosoe, records and relations manager government agencies of UPL Brasil.

Strict selection

Seal winners were subjected to a rigorous evaluation process by a highly regarded panel of private and public sector members of the Seal Steering Committee. As part of the assessment, candidates were required to demonstrate a strong compliance program by sharing concrete actions taken to promote an ethical environment and providing specific training for employees to ensure application of ethical guidelines in daily activities.

The committee is made up of members from Mapa, Apex-Brasil, the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) and the General Comptroller of the Union (CGU). In the private sphere, the Alliance for Integrity, the Brazilian Confederation of Agriculture and Livestock (CNA), the National Confederation of Industry (CNI), the Ethos Institute of Business and Social Responsibility, the Brazilian Federation of Banks (Febraban) participate in the assessments. , the Organization of Brazilian Cooperatives (OCB) and the Instituto Rede Brasil do Pacto Global.