Cooperatives should reach approximately US$ 111.15 billion in 2023, according to Márcio de Freitas, president of the Brazilian Cooperative Organization System. Agribusiness should receive 60% to 65% of this amount. “Despite the difficulties and financing lines’ costs, we should keep the accelerated level of investment, capable of meeting the growing demand of the agricultural sector in infrastructure, industry and logistics”, said Lopes. (OCB; SNA)

Government of the State of Rio Grande do Sul approved new decrees related to agribusiness. For the rice processing industry, the reduction of the calculation base for the tax on the circulation of products (IVAT) on interstate shipments of processed rice was extended until December 31, 2024. Dairy sector will have credit extended for establishments that process milk and whey. In pig farming, the slaughter and processing of pigs will have an expansion of their tax benefit. (Government of Rio Grande do Sul)

Number of investors in Investment Funds in the Agro-Industrial Production Chains (Fiagro), grew 417% in 2022, rising from 30.7 thousand to 158.8 thousand. Individual investors make up around 92% of the total. (B3 Stock Exchange)

Rech, a manufacturer of parts for agricultural machinery from Itajaí, State of Santa Catarina, invested US$ 220 thousand in four photovoltaic solar power stations in the States of Mato Grosso and Bahia. (Rech)

Antônio Júlio Junqueira de Queiroz is the new secretary of agriculture for the State of São Paulo. According to the secretary, internet connectivity in rural areas will be among the priority issues of his administration. “We are going to digitilize everything. We need an internet signal. Today we have around 406 thousand properties and we want to make life easier for the farmer”, said Queiroz. (Secretary of Agriculture and Supply of the State of São Paulo)

The President signed a decree reestablishing the combat against deforestation in the Amazon Forest and another reestablishing the Amazon Fund, with resources reaching US$ 560 million from international donations to stop environmental crimes. It was also determined that the Ministry of the Environment must propose, within 45 days, new regulations for the National Council for the Environment. (Amazon Fund; Ministry of the Environment)

Carlos Fávaro is the new minister of agriculture. Irajá Lacerda should be appointed as the Ministry’s executive secretary. André de Paula was also announced for the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture, that will be reinstated, and Paulo Teixeira for the Ministry of Agrarian Development. The Ministry of the Environment will be headed by Marina Silva. (Agência Senado)

Agtech Cromai, an artificial intelligence company that developed a system that detects invasive plants in farms, ended a new round of investment to expand its share in the sugar-ethanol sector and start operations with grains and fibers. A contribution of approximately US$ 2.78 million came from Baraúna Venture Capital, Agropecuária Sucuri and farmers in the region of Morro Agudo, State of São Paulo. It is the second major investment received by the startup, almost three times bigger than the last one, raised 18 months ago. In 2021, Stoller, recently acquired by Corteva, contributed US$ 930 thousand. Cromai already monitors 300,000 hectares of sugarcane. (Cromai; Baraúna Venture Capital; Agropecuária Sucuri)

Fumacense Alimentos, with headquarters in Morro da Fumaça, State of Santa Catarina, reused more than 21 thousand tonnes of rice husks in 2022, to generate 4,290 megawatts/hour of energy through its own thermoelectric plant. (Fumacense Alimentos)

Avian influenza continues to advance in the country. Agricultural and Livestock Service raised the alert level after confirming the presence of the virus in a pelican on the coast of Tunquén, in Valparaíso, being the first case in the region. Across the country, 3247 wild birds died because of the virus and were buried by authorities. Authorities urge poultry owners and farmers to increase biosecurity measures, preventing commercial poultry from coming into contact with wild birds. (SAG)

Apple sector is in crisis because of the rising production costs and falling prices. “We are facing one of the most complicated moments that the apple sector has ever experienced in Chile”, says Vicente Vargas, technical manager at Dole, the country’s biggest apple exporter. Antonio Walker, one of the biggest apple farmers in Chile, claims that this is “the worst apple harvest in 35 years“. The trend of the past 10 years was already a decrease in national production. Planted area was reduced by an average of 600 hectares per year. (Dole; Odepa)

Ministry of Agriculture extended until January 31 of 2023 the call for small farmers to subscribe to the Fund for Access to Agricultural Inputs, that grants the right to 20% reimbursement in the purchase of fertilizers for crops or feed for livestock. So far, 39970 farmers have applied for reimbursement. (Ministry of Agriculture)