January 15, 2016
- The authorization and licensing for clearing land on Fazenda Rio Grande (FRG), which was acquired in December 2015 due to the responsible and sustainable operations on our plantations.
- Demonstrating the sheer scale and process of clearing the land on FRG, as well as the infrastructure and machinery required for such an undertaking.
- An extension of the energy network across our plantations, which will nearly double the energy output throughout each sector.
- The construction of a 200m2 office for our technicians to operate our newly implemented fertigation system, which has the capacity to adjust the frequency, amount and concentration of organic fertilizer used across our plantations.
- The clearance of another 800 hectares of land in anticipation of planting season
- The process involved in sourcing new land for the expansion of our projects.
Land on FRG is Being Cleared and Readied for Planting
Clearing land and preparing the soil for planting are fundamental procedures in securing high yields in modern agriculture, a process that is often delayed by the infamous bureaucracy here in Brazil. Nevertheless, due to the comprehensive and environmentally friendly strategies adopted throughout our plantations, we successfully acquired the appropriate authorization to clear and implement the next stage of our project, within Fazenda Rio Grande (FRG).
The road entering Fazenda Rio Grande
When ensuring sustainable practices in land clearance, environmental considerations such as maintaining biodiversity, preserving wildlife and caring for the soil are paramount. Before the clearing begins, we set up a framework for monitoring any fauna and wildlife that exits on the land. By safely relocating any of this wildlife to a dedicated reserve area on our plantations, we can maintain the region’s natural biodiversity. We then use Caterpillartractors, working round the clock, to clear the land of any shrubbery. Instead of burning the shrubbery (a common practice in agriculture despite being harmful to the environment), we shred and plough the excess right back into the soil. This allows the soil to remain healthy, while ensuring that all nutrients necessary for optimal tree development remain.
With clear skies above, the land on Fazenda Rio Grande is being cleared in time for rainy season.
Determined to ensure this level of social responsibility is adhered to in all sectors of our plantation, we are helping to evolve a more environmentally-friendly system for agriculture. This is becoming increasingly vital at a time when the Earth’s resources are under severe pressure. Semace, Ceará state’s environmental authorities, remain highly interested in our projects as we are setting the bar on sustainable agriculture in the area. We offer a variety of environmental, economic and social benefits to the region, which include job creation in the community, local development and environmental protection.
We have two “Caterpillar” machines working together to clear as much land as possible each day
With the help of the very latest plantation equipment, we have now reached the final stages of clearing on this section of FRG. Clearing at a rate of 2-6 hectares per day (dependent upon density of shrubs), this stage of implementation will be finalized in a matter of weeks. Once the land is cleared, we will be ready to plant neem trees across this sector of the plantation and move on immediately to the next phase. This is perfect timing for the rainy season that is fast approaching. The upcoming stage of planting will be underway at the start of February, the very beginning of the wet months. This will ensure maximum growth while the trees are in their infancy and ultimately produce the high quality trees aimed for since concept. These neem trees, while being a natural leader in carbon offsetting, will produce extraordinary products that help safeguard global health and agriculture.
Neem saplings in our nursery are ready for planting
As we clear more land and plant more trees, we strengthen our vision of long-term, sustainable and appreciating assets. With ongoing implementation on our plantations, alongside the continued expansion of our projects, we are ensuring productive and reliable farmland – a fundamental asset class on which lucrative crops are harvested on a regular basis. By diversifying your portfolio towards agricultural land in one of the world’s agricultural powerhouses (Brazil), you are adding an extra layer of financial security.
Our road to success in neem
Over the next few weeks we will continue providing updates on the next stages of implementation and the exciting developments that are taking place on our plantations at this period of heightened implementation activity. These will include more photos and videos demonstrating the work being carried out on the ground, such as the extension of our plantations’ energy network, the next phase of planting and the acquisition of new land to expand the scale of our projects.
