Round Table on Responsible Soy Association

The Cooperativa Agropecuaria Alto Uruguai Ltda. – COTRIMAIO is located in the Northwest region of the state of  Rio Grande do Sul, and is active in the agricultural and agro-industry sectors. It brings together 14.046 small producers.

How did you know about the RTRS and why did you decide to become a member of the Association? Through the trade union organization, the unions related to the fetraf sul, and also through Solidaridad Holanda, and because the Cotrimaio cooperative is always participating in subjects connected with sustainability and work with organic products, apart from being a cooperative in which 92% of its members belong to family agriculture.

Which practices do you use to maintain the soil and water quality of the property? No-till farming, crop rotation, reforestation and planting of trees on the banks of the little rivers.

Which is your company policy as regards sustainability? COTRIMAIO has dealt with sustainability throughout its history. Cotrimaio organizes many meetings, seminars, technical conferences with its social view on the environment, both on water and the rational use of chemicals during cultivation. In 2007 Cotrimaio created the Cotrimaio Agenda 21 containing 40 actions referring to environmental protection including:

• Environmental Education
• Solid Waste
• Containers
• Energy Use
• Water Use
• Dust Emission
• Forests
• Use of Agrochemicals
• Agro-ecological Production

For further information, please visit: www.cotrimaio.com.br

Have you had any concrete experience of the RTRS P&C implementation tests? If the answer is “yes”, could you give any recommendations to other producers who are thinking of implementing them? -I have no experience, but I know my property and I know that it would be able to be part of the RTRS, although maybe it would not be 100% in the question of apps  (permanent preservation areas).

-Yes, I can make recommendations, and I have even given several conferences on that, but there is still a lot of resistance from producers.

Do you know group certification? If you do, what do you think about it? Which are its main benefits?- Yes, I know it. It is wonderful, and this is the proposal I defended during the meetings of the DG in which I participated since I believe this is the only way a big number of producers can join as it is feasible due to the costs.

Which are the main benefits that you see as a producer who participates in the RTRS?- Look, I think that the first benefit would be to preserve and to help cure our ill planet: we need to take a lot of care of our forests and water apart from, as a producer, receiving some benefits for the products we produce in the future.

On which aspects do you think the RTRS should work more to offer greater benefits? –To look for trading possibilities for production according to the criteria with a good added value, since in this capitalist and globalized world we are living in, added value would be a great incentive for everyone to join the RTRS.

Also to look for differentiation in the incentives and credit programs for those within the criteria.