Brazil stands out as one of the largest commodity producers in the world, leader in the cultivation and export of soy, corn and beef to several countries in the Americas, Europe and Asia.
According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA)[1], the volume of exports from the primary sector – especially agribusiness – reached, in 2021, the figure of US$ 120 billion, with more than 15.62 million tons exported.
Also, according to data from the fourth estimate of the 2021/2022 harvest published by CONAB[2][3], the country should harvest 284.4 million tons of grains, which represents a 12.5% growth – 32 million tons – in relation to the previous harvest.
These figures, referring only to the agricultural sector, show, in addition to strength, the competitiveness of Brazilian agribusiness, a sector responsible for almost 1/3 of the country’s Gross Domestic Product in 2020, or more than 2 trillion dollars annually[4], and decisive in the country’s trade surplus in recent years.
However, at a global level, special attention is needed to the pressures of commercial and competitive demands, especially those resulting from high competitiveness – due to the fact that it is an extremely technical production chain and sensitive to pressures from other producing countries – and, more recently, to the new demands of the consumer market, demanding the incorporation of new practices that add value to the agribusiness production chains.
In his vision 2030 – “The future of Brazilian agriculture”[5] – EMBRAPA analyzes that the pressures arising from climate change, changes in consumption patterns and the intensification of competitive pressures, will start to demand from the producer not only the increase in production – mainly due to technological evolution – but also the adoption of practices that add value to the production chain in its entirety.
Investments in productivity and technology will be necessary without, however, leaving aside good sustainability, fair trade and compliance practices, necessary not only to meet environmental or agricultural legislation, but especially to the demands of commerce and consumers.
In this sense, in a successful initiative, the Ministry of Agriculture instituted, through Ordinance 2.462 of December 12, 2017, the “Agro more integrity” seal, whose objective is the recognition of good practices in Brazilian agriculture, rewarding agribusiness companies that adopt measures that ensure integrity, ethics and sustainability in their production processes, supply chains and commercial relationships.
The purpose of the seal is, as established in its art. 1: “I – encourage the implementation of integrity, ethics and sustainability programs, in their broad spectrum, namely: economic, social and environmental; II – make agribusiness companies aware of their relevant role in fighting corrupt and unethical competitive practices; III – recognize integrity, ethics and sustainability practices in agribusiness companies in the national market, in their relationship with each other and with the public sector; and IV – mitigate the risks of fraud and corruption in the relations between the public sector and agribusiness companies. Sole paragraph. The “Agro+ Integridade Seal” will be valid annually and, consequently, change its layout, for the purpose of identifying the year to which the award refers”, being an official recognition that these companies adopt, following objective criteria provided for in the ordinances of the MAPA, practices of excellence in management and production.
As regulated by the ordinances of the program, recognition by the seal will be carried out through the qualification of the company that must prove that it has met the quality requirements contained in the registration notice, among which it is worth highlighting – art. 3 – : “document proving the company’s Compliance Program; document proving that managers and employees have been trained on topics related to the approved Compliance program or related to the Code of Ethics or Conduct or evidence of being a signatory of the Business Pact for Integrity and against Corruption, promoted by the Ethos Institute; not appear on the List of establishments that have committed adulteration or falsification proven in proceedings with a res judicata in the administrative scope, managed by the Department of Agricultural Defense – SDA/MAPA, in the last 24 (twenty-four) months. Demonstrate compliance with the sustainable actions of GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES specified on the official MAPA page[6]. Sustainable Management Report attested by a specific national or international certification body”.
With the registration and documentation duly authorized, its analysis will be carried out by the Agro+ Seal Management Committee, made up of representatives of technical bodies and agribusiness companies and entities that will be responsible for verifying compliance with the requirements and subsequent certification of the company with the seal.
Thus, it is important to give special emphasis to the opportunities that the Seal opens up to rural producers or entrepreneurs within the market, by helping them to position their brand, consolidating it with consumers and establishing quality standards to be followed not only within company, but throughout the production chain, raising the quality of products and services offered to consumers.
Furthermore, it is worth mentioning the competitive stimulus provided by the program, given that, without a doubt, as mentioned above, in view of the high competitiveness of the sector, other companies will have to adjust to the new quality standards offered, ultimately benefiting the final recipient. of products and services, the consumer.
In addition, the Federal Government’s initiative offers a great opportunity for brand positioning in the domestic and foreign markets, through the use, in advertising, of the seal, which can be stamped together with your brand, with the company’s name still appearing. on the list of companies recognized with the seal, available on the Ministry of Agriculture website – art. 13. -.
Countless are the opportunities provided by the certification of the seal plus integrity, demonstrating that the Brazilian agricultural market, highly technified and competitive, still has great growth prospects in the coming decades, expanding its productive capacity, growing in quality and profitability in the face of the main world markets, through a responsible environmental and social policy with good management and production practices, within a highly efficient compliance program that ensures that agribusiness continues to be the engine of the country.
[1] https://www.gov.br/agricultura/pt-br/assuntos/noticias/exportacoes-do-agronegocio-batem-recorde-em-dezembro-e-no-ano-de-2021
[2] https://www.gov.br/pt-br/noticias/agricultura-e-pecuaria/2022/01/producao-agricola-brasileira-deve-crescer-12-5-nesta-safra#:~:text=O%20Brasil%20deve%20produzir%20um,em%20rela%C3%A7%C3%A3o%20%C3%A0%20safra%20passada.
[3] Published on January 11, 2022.
[4] https://www.cnabrasil.org.br/boletins/pib-do-agronegocio-alcanca-participacao-de-26-6-no-pib-brasileiro-em-2020
[5] https://www.embrapa.br/documents/10180/9543845/Vis%C3%A3o+2030+-+o+futuro+da+agricultura+brasileira/2a9a0f27-0ead-991a-8cbf-af8e89d62829?version=1.1
[6] https://www.gov.br/agricultura/pt-br/assuntos/sustentabilidade/producao-integrada/boas-praticas-agricolas
Available at: https://exame.com/bussola/compliance-agrario-as-oportunidades-do-selo-mais-integridade/
Autor: Pedro Batistoti Boller • email: pedro.boller@ernestoborges.com.br
