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A reference in the adoption of sustainable practices in agriculture, Dulce Ciochetta is responsible for managing the Morena Group, from Tangará da Serra (MT), which allocates 6,900 hectares to the production of soybeans, corn and cattle through the Crop-Livestock-Forest Integration system ( ILPF). Recognized by the Women of Agro Award in 2018 in the large property category, the farmer states that the recognition of her farm as a model of sustainability is the result of 30 years of work.
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“Our learning came from a lot of investment in innovation and research in the field to arrive at new forms of production in the field. With the adoption of conservation actions and more intelligent management in the field, we have achieved increased profitability, business diversification and, above all, the longevity of production, after all, our main input is land and soil”, he says Sweet.
Enthusiastic about the topic, Ciochetta is part of a Bayer project with the objective of building carbon neutral Brazilian agriculture, the Bayer Carbon Initiative. This year, Bayer launched PRO Carbono, a company program that offers new advantages to producers willing to increase their productivity and increase carbon sequestration in the soil through the adoption of sustainable agronomic practices, such as the intensification of direct planting or planting cover crops
“We are proud to be one of the properties working to implement this initiative. We are sure that this avant-garde project will open new frontiers for producers, not only because it is another business opportunity, but because it recognizes the work we do in the field every day”, comments the producer.
“We, farmers, are great preservers. Around 25% of our territory is conserved. This Bayer project is important for us to show how much agriculture can contribute to sustainability. We are part of the solution and not the problem”, adds Dulce.
Adoption of sustainable practices
With 61 employees, the farmer has always sought courses and lectures to improve management and for employees to resolve doubts that arise as a result of the regulations of the Ministry of Agriculture. “We created the Sentinelas Forum, an initiative that encourages sustainable ideas within the field. I call teachers to address topics such as water, recycling and waste, for example. Furthermore, we launched the Sentinel Challenge, where our employees implement and are rewarded for innovative creations related to the theme”, he reinforces.
Still in terms of sustainability in production, the farm is also a reference in the reuse of rainwater. “As soon as the water falls on the shed roof, it goes to a gutter system, connected to a type of reservoir, where it is stored. This water is reused on the farm for spraying”, says the producer.
Another differential of the Morena Group is the Crop Livestock Forest Integration system (ILPF). 12 years ago, the farm began planting eucalyptus in areas of low soybean productivity. After 8 years of this practice, livestock farming also joined the property's diversity of crops.
“The integration works very well. When we manage to combine the soybean harvest with the off-season pasture, grain productivity is greater. Furthermore, planting eucalyptus provides animal well-being”, says Dulce, who reinforces that sustainability is a business opportunity for the farm. “Without a doubt, it is a pillar that transforms into efficiency in the field”, he concludes.
Source: agrolink
