“Sugarcane is a reference when it comes to the biological use of pesticides…”
Pedro Dinucci is the chairman of the administration board at Usina São Manoel, with a degree in civil engineering from the Polytechnic School of USP and an MBA from the London Business School.
AgriBrasilis – What are the main environmental impacts of sugarcane production?
Pedro Dinucci – Sugarcane is considered a semi-perennial crop, meaning it doesn’t need to be planted yearly. It is planted every 5 or 6 years, minimizing the impact on the soil and reducing CO2 emissions. Another important factor is industrial waste, such as filter cake and vinasse, which comes from the processing of the sugarcane itself and is used in the sugarcane farms as a source of organic nutrients, significantly reducing the use of mineral fertilizers.
Sugarcane farming is a reference when it comes to the biological use of pesticides, especially in the case of biological pest control. Like most grasses, it is a major fixer of carbon in the soil, a factor that is extremely important for plant root development. Once this carbon is retained in the soil, it is no longer released into the atmosphere.
One cannot fail to mention ethanol, a biofuel produced from sugarcane which, when consumed, emits 90% less CO2 than gasoline (fossil fuel).
A concern for the sector is the high consumption of diesel in the harvesting and transportation of sugarcane to the industries, which results in a high volume of emissions. At the moment, there are no possible actions to drastically reduce the consumption of this fuel, since the vehicles available on the market don’t have superior technologies to those we have in our fleet. Another important issue is the occurrence of agricultural fires. Although the practice of using fire as a pre-harvest method has no longer been part of the day-to-day activities of sugarcane mills for at least 10 years, and all harvesting is carried out mechanically, there are still many incidents of fire caused by third parties in sugarcane farms. These small outbreaks of fire, when they find a favorable scenario for spreading, such as dry weather, low humidity, heat, and wind, take on proportions that get out of control and can cause major environmental, social, and financial damage.
“A concern for the sector is the high consumption of diesel in the harvesting and transportation of sugarcane to the industry, which results in the highest volume of emissions”
AgriBrasilis – What sustainability-focused practices set Usina São Manoel apart?
Pedro Dinucci – Some of our programs were designed precisely to promote the sustainability of the community in which we operate, such as the Honey Cycle Program. Since its launch in 2015, around 2,500 bee boxes have been installed in more than 500 ha of vegetation. The program is run in conjunction with the Botucatu Beekeepers’ Association, which is responsible for managing the hives, and Casa Santa Maria, a local non-profit organization that serves children and adolescents in situations of social vulnerability. At the end of the honey harvest, the Association sells the honey produced in the hives, distributes the profits among its members and part of the money from the sale of each kg of honey is donated to Casa Santa Maria. This program is also an important biological indicator since the existence of bees in our areas shows that the use of pesticides has been carried out safely.
Another noteworthy program is Bicho Vivo, carried out in partnership with the Environmental Military Police of the State of São Paulo and the Environmental Surveillance of the city of São Manuel. The initiative aims to monitor local fauna using cameras positioned in strategic locations and the contribution of collaborators in the field. This data is stored in a database and allows São Manoel to assess the local fauna and to adapt its protection measures.
Native vegetation also features prominently in our activities. The restoration program began in the 80’s with the establishment of our first native seedling nursery. Based on the floristic survey carried out in partnership with ESALQ-USP in 2009, we have 100% of the species indicated for our region, according to the Botanical Institute of the State of São Paulo, preserved in our native vegetation areas. Our nursery currently has around 100,000 regionally occurring native seedlings of 94 different species, used for planting in our restoration areas.
AgriBrasilis – Do certifications (such as Bonsucro, RenovaBio, Greener Ethanol) make a difference? Why?
Pedro Dinucci – They certainly make a difference. Certifications have performance indicators and, to maintain the certificate, the performance improvement must be continuous. São Manoel has been a signatory of the Agri-Environmental Protocol – Etanol Mais Verde (Greener Ethanol) since 2007, a certification which included, among its indicators, the gradual elimination of sugarcane burning as a pre-harvest method; water consumption metrics (m³/tc – cubic meter per tonne of processed sugarcane); and rural environmental registration of sugarcane supply areas. Bonsucro certification was implemented in 2011, and São Manoel is the second mill in the world to have this certification. The RenovaBio certification demonstrates our commitment to producing biofuels (ethanol) efficiently, and the better our production efficiency, the greater our emission of Decarbonization Credits.
AgriBrasilis – What is the ecological corridor adopted in the company’s farms and what is its importance?
Pedro Dinucci – Ecological corridors are areas of vegetation planted to connect a forest fragment to a Permanent Preservation Area. Corridors play an important role in the balance and preservation of species of fauna and flora, as they facilitate the movement of animals and the propagation native species seeds. The movement of fauna in these areas becomes safer, preventing animals from crossing agricultural areas and rural roads, and minimizing possible incidents. These corridors also favor the existing seed bank in the soil and the perpetuation of regionally occurring species, contributing to the maintenance of biodiversity.
AgriBrasilis – How is drone management carried out in the area and how does this relate to the search for sustainability?
Pedro Dinucci – Drones have various uses in agriculture, such as monitoring areas, mapping, collecting data, and spraying pesticides. They help with sustainability, as they reduce the use of agricultural machinery and allow agricultural products to be applied locally, reducing environmental impacts.
AgriBrasilis – How have the weather and fires affected the Usina’s yield?
Pedro Dinucci – Burning can result in the loss of essential nutrients from the soil, such as nitrogen and carbon. In these cases, it is necessary to replace the lost nutrients through organo-mineral fertilization. Fires also interfere with the sugarcane cycle, making it necessary to advance the harvest or, in the case of sugarcane that is considered not harvestable because of burning, to cut it down.
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