13,000 Family Farmers Enrolled in Brazil’s Biodiesel Program

The National Program for Biodiesel Production and Use encourages the development of family farming by means of actions that involve distribution of seeds, agricultural technical assistance services, transport of production and support to the organization of small farmers into cooperatives.

Petrobras Biofuel signs five-year contracts, which offer greater guarantees to farmers, with purchase prices previously negotiated with the participation of representative organizations.
The company aims to develop partnerships in the region with 20,000 family farmers for supplying the Montes Claros Plant. For the 2008/2009 crop, there already are 12,955 family farmers enrolled in the program, who will receive technical assistance and follow-up of productive activities by means of a support network of 200 technicians and agents at partnering institutions. For this new phase, 131 tons of seeds have been distributed thus far, being 128 tons of castor oil plant and 3 tons of sunflower.

Petrobras Biofuel guarantees the purchase of 100% of the previously agreed upon output, originated by family farmers enrolled with the company, among whom it promotes its agricultural development actions.

Since June 21 last year, a total of 396 tons of grain have been purchased, being 270 tons of castor oil plant, 93 tons of peanut and 33 tons of sunflower. From that total, 95% comes from family farmers with whom the company maintains agricultural partnerships, located within a radius of 300 kilometers from Montes Claros, an area in which the company favors the purchase of oleaginous plants.

Brazzil Mag