Businessman of Passo Fundo gains Prize Jovens Lideranças

One of the first entrepreneurs of biodiesel in the country, Erasmo Battistella, won category Agro-business

The chief executive officer of BSBIOS and president of the Association of Biodiesel Producers of Brazil (APROBIO), Erasmo Carlos Battistella, from Passo Fundo, gained Prize Jovens Lideranças, category Agro-business, from journal O Estado de S. Paulo. The objective of this initiative was to recognize the work of businessmen who contribute to the development of the country.

During ceremony at Palácio dos Bandeirantes, which is the head office of the state government of São Paulo, last night (5/3), Erasmo received the prize from the hands of the ex-minister Chief of Staff Pedro Parente, current chairman of Group Bunge do Brasil. The event was attended by the state Governor Geraldo Alckmin, among other authorities.

The chairman of APROBIO thanked the recognition and said that the prize increases our commitment of doing the best for our country, in the production of food and now, at this moment, agro-energy". He remembered that, some days ago, Brazil celebrated the Labor Day and said that "Everybody here is a collaborator before being a businessman".

Before the ceremony, Erasmo was completely satisfied, thus together with him, another partner of APROBIO, businessman Sérgio Galleti de Queiróz, the chairman of Minerva slaughterhouse, also competed for the prize. The third person indicated for category Agro-business was the chairman of plant Vale do Verdão, Sergino Mendonça.

The jury was comprised of people whose leadership is recognized in several segments in Brazil. Besides ex minister Pedro Parente, writer Marcelo Rubens Paiva; ex national secretary Wanda Engel of NGO Roda Viva; ex-president of the Central Bank, Henrique Meirelles; the businesswoman of the third sector, Viviane Senna, who is the president of Institute Ayrton Senna;, president of Totvs, Laércio Cosentino; president of TAM, Marco Antonio Bologna; president of Magazine Luiza, Luiza Trajano; ex- basket player, Hortência Marcari; and the president of mining company Vale, Murilo Ferreira were present at the occasion.

In its first edition, the prize is a partnership of the Journal with agency XYZLive, with the support of the Paulista Improvement Agency, of the state government of São Paulo.