Biodiesel and canola: a successful union

Larger producer of canola in the country, BSBIOS demonstrates that the crop is an excellent option for the producer to invest in the winter

Participating for the first time in the Coopavel Rural Show, in Cascavel/PR, BSBIOS also inaugurates the presence of the biodiesel segment at the fair. "Besides showing the work that BSBIOS has achieved in Paraná with the production of biodiesel, we presented the growth of canola as a profitable option for a winter crop and also demonstrates to the audience that visit us how important biodiesel market is for agro-business", explains Erasmo Carlos Battistella, CEO of BSBIOS and the Brazilian Association of Canola Producers - ABRASCANOLA.

According to Battistella, the bet on canola was strengthened through the implantation of the National Program of Production and Use of Biodiesel - PNPB, in 2005. Despite being a crop that presented difficulties in Paraná in the 1980s, with biodiesel in Brazil, the country, which is the second greater producer and consumer of biodiesel nowadays, started to have more necessity for oil, then, canola seemed to be an excellent option, yielding up to 40% of oil. "Many problems of that time were solved, as it is the case of the agro-climatic zoning that began to be achieved in Brazil from 2008; growth and harvesting technologies were also developed, solving the great problems of the past. Furthermore, BSBIOS provides technical support and guarantees the purchase of the producer's production, and this provides security", asserts Battistella. Currently, BSBIOS is the largest producer of canola in Brazil. Last crop, the country was the second greater producer in Latin America, with 59 thousand ha of area planted. The company itself improved 25 thousand ha, where 10 thousand ha in Paraná only, and the expectation is that the number increase even more. "Through the partnership with ABRASCANOLA and the Association of Biodiesel Producers of Brazil - APROBIO we are trying two important changes together with the Federal Government. The first one is a clear public policy, which purpose is to improve canola productivity and the second one, is that we have a new regulatory mark so that, among other guidelines, the mixture of biodiesel to fossil diesel passes from the current 5% to 7%, what would be extremely beneficial for agriculture", says the CEO of BSBIOS. Working with partnerships, mainly with cooperatives and grain producers, BSBIOS tries to increase considerably the improvement of the crop in Paraná. One of these works will occur next week, also in Cascavel/PR. The III State Course of Technical Training for Canola Crop will happen on 13 and 14 of February at the Center of Conventions and Events Pedro Luiz Boaretto and it will be accomplished by researchers and experts of the sector and they will discuss from plantation and harvesting techniques to market and climate perspectives for crop 2012. The entrance is free and subscriptions must be achieved by e-mail bsbiosmarialva@bsbiosmarialva.com.