Great audience honors Opening of Canola Crop

Commitment towards the development of Canola was confirmed in the event

Sunny afternoon on Tuesday (10/04) was the right day to gather more than 500 people, among producers, rural technicians, students, agronomists, businessmen, authorities among others to follow the National Opening of Canola Crop 2011 and the IIIrd Field Day of Canola Crop, which happened in the district of Vista Alegre, in the town of Colorado (RS).

The audience may visit four technical stations which had a technological approach about the crop, considering from sowing, fertilization, handling, new technologies of harvest and commercialization, as well as characteristics of physiology, development and technical assistance. Yet, it was possible to check the dynamics with the cut platform and windrowing and the news for this year is the platform for Canola collection.

To the Chief Executive Officer of BSBIOS and ARASCANOLA, Erasmo Carlos Battistella, the industry of Biodiesel confirms the commitment towards Canola with this action. "The technical team will continue to work in order to increase the area and productivity of Canola in the State. This year, we will reach 25 thousand ha planted, 15 thousand ha improved by the unit of Passo Fundo (RS) and 10 thousand ha by the unit of Marialva (PR)," he asserted. Also, we will continue to work as association in order to involve all links of the productive chain "We take the opportunity of having the presence of the representative of the Federal and State Government to ask for endeavoring towards working together in the development of the crop which has potential to grow" emphasized Battistella.

The Chairman of Petrobras Biofuel and the Managment Council of BSBIOS, Miguel Rossetto, emphasized that this is another action which focus in the diversification of raw-material to Biodiesel. "Canola is an alternative for winter agriculture, an option of feasible and profitable growth, guaranteeing security and return to producer in this period when there are little options" he said.

The same opinion was highlighted by the Chairman of Cotrijal, Nei Cézar Manica. "We know that this crop is one of the most important crops in the production of Biodiesel and Oil. Cotrijal is a partner and will continue to be a partner in the improvement and development of Canola," he asserted.

To the Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock and Agrobusiness of Rio Grande do Sul, Luiz Fernando Mainardi, the improvement of Canola is very important. "We need to improve and develop even more crops for energetic purposes as it happens with Canola, with the formula it was nationally adopted, that is, industrializing raw-material, aggregating income and not exporting the gross product, we need to transform them here in Rio Grande do Sul, thus there will be return in benefits for the entire community", he emphasized.

The coordinator of Agroenergy of the Ministry of Agriculture and Supply (MAPA), João da Silva Abreu Neto, highlighted the productive chain of Canola. "Today, we are gathered together with representatives of Governments, farmers, industries, cooperatives, students, universities, researchers, that is, a local productive arrangement, and that is why it is important, because the crop generates income, employment, technology, among others. As a Ministry, we are endeavoring to increase the area planted and the productivity of Canola", he stated.

The area of Canola growth has increased year by year, in all main producer states of Brazil. In this crop, there was an increase of 41% in relation with last crop, from 41.976 ha grown in 2010 to 59.100 ha grown in 2011. In Rio Grande do Sul, the area sowed increased 29%, passing from 25.960 ha to 33.500 ha. In Paraná, there was an important increase which reached 79%, passing from 12.840 ha to 23.000 ha.