Suzano, the world's largest producer of cellulose and a global leader in the manufacture of bioproducts developed from eucalyptus, committed to promoting environmental, social and economic growth in all regions of Espírito Santo, is announcing and reinforcing its commitment to sustainable rural development, highlighting its leasing and development programs for producers in Espírito Santo. The company currently has exactly 1,119 partnership contracts with farmers in the state of Espírito Santo alone.
One of the beneficiaries, with an active contract until the end of 2032, is Celso Fricks, 70, who has a lease partnership. The cattle rancher from Presidente Kennedy says he made one of the best choices of his life when he signed the agreement with the company in 2018. “I always worked with cattle and had my own head of cattle, but one day I started doing the math and thought that eucalyptus could yield more. So I went to Suzano and we made contacts, held meetings, and everything was always very respectful and clear. I receive my payment on time every month, and I have a great relationship with the directors, so I thank God for giving me the wisdom to enter this business because it was one of the best things I have ever done,” says Celso.
Partnership modalities
With the lease, Suzano assumes all operational activities, from planting to harvesting, paying the producer for the area used. By joining the development program, however, Suzano starts to provide seedlings and technical assistance, while the partner producer is responsible for planting, cultural treatments and harvesting, with the guarantee of purchase of the wood by the company.
Innovation and Sustainability
Less than two years ago, Suzano launched a pioneering Crop-Livestock-Forest Integration (ILPF) project at the Três Marias Farm in Linhares, in northern Espírito Santo. As a result, the farm became the Technical Reference Unit (URT) in the state. This model balances agricultural production with the conservation of natural resources, expanding practices already implemented in other states. This is one example of the union of innovation and sustainability, called "innovability" by the company, and one of the thousands of supports provided to farmers in Espírito Santo.
For Bárbara Dalgallo, Forestry Business Coordinator at Suzano, there are only benefits to leasing in the ILPF model: "Leasing in ILPF generates an advantage for the producer, as it guarantees a stable income for the leased land, in addition to the income generated by the agriculture or livestock that he himself implements and cares for during the eucalyptus cycle. Suzano pays proportionally for the area used”.