The Lavoro Group, the largest distributor of agricultural inputs in Brazil, has just published its 2021/2022 Sustainability Report, a document that encompasses all the innovation, governance, social and environmental performance actions taken by the company during the period.

Sustainability is one of the pillars of the group, which has a commitment to the United Nations Global Compact, building a work within the UN’s 2030 Agenda, aiming for sustainable agriculture, responsible production, and economic growth.

“The last two years have represented a major advance for our sustainable agenda. During the 21/22 cycle we developed our Traceability Program, through digital monitoring tools and a proprietary evaluation protocol. This led us to create the Lavoro Seal of Sustainability, designed to recognize, encourage, and disseminate good practices of our customers on their farms”, says Ruy Cunha, CEO of the Lavoro Group.

According to Monique Cardoso, Lavoro’s Corporate Sustainability Manager, with the Traceability Program, the company seeks to assess the environmental impacts from one end of the production chain to the other through its market activities.

The Program is the result of a vast study and previous mapping of Lavoro’s clients and their farms, located in the Amazon and in the Brazilian Cerrado. “From this, we were able to elaborate a socio-environmental protocol that assesses the main risks to be mitigated or avoided inside and outside the rural properties,” explains Monique.

“With the Traceability Program, we will be sure that the soy, corn, wheat, coffee, cotton and other agricultural products produced by our customers will be accepted in all markets, without any restriction.  The farms leased or not, that are 100% aligned to the protocols required by the program, receive the Lavoro Seal of Sustainability, in recognition of good practices and commitment to the environment,” adds Cunha.

Lavoro Seal of Sustainability

The Seal was born as part of the Traceability Program and of the need to improve the social and environmental assessment of customers and suppliers. It will be awarded annually to all partners that are 100% compliant with the social and environmental criteria, considering the adherence to the Code of Conduct and Ethics, Sustainability Policy, and good business practices.

“The Seal was implemented as a pilot-project in the 22/23 harvest, with a progressive increase in verification over the next few harvests. Our goal is to have 100% of our clients verified by 2025. It is a way to ensure that the food that reaches the final consumer’s table is a product that was grown responsibly and in line with our socio-environmental commitments”, emphasizes Monique.

In 2022, Lavoro automated the environmental risk analysis processes, adapting a consultation tool that uses a public database, coupled with the use of artificial intelligence in its assessments, also using georeferencing resources. 18 socio-environmental risk factors are considered, including the situation of the Rural Environmental Registry (owned and leased farms), lists of IBAMA, ICMBio and state departments of Environment, slave labor list, and irregular deforestation criteria in several Brazilian biomes.

“The Lavoro Sustainability Seal is an achievement for the entire market, since there is a guarantee that our customers are 100% aligned with the environmental preservation policies required by the Brazilian legislation. It is a big step towards building a sustainable agricultural future,” concludes the company’s CEO.

About Lavoro

Lavoro is Brazil’s largest agricultural inputs retailer and a leading provider of agriculture biologics inputs. Through a complete portfolio, Lavoro empowers farmers to adopt breakthrough technology and boost productivity. Founded in 2017, Lavoro has a broad geographical presence, with distribution operations in Brazil and Colombia, and an emergent agricultural input trading company in Uruguay. Lavoro’s 924 technical sales representatives have met with more than 60,000 customers on farms and at 193 retail locations multiple times per year to help them plan, purchase the right inputs, and manage their farming operations to optimize outcomes. Learn more about Lavoro at www.lavoroagro.com.br.

Press Information:

Hill + Knowlton Brasil

Ana Lívia Lopes | + 55 11 98845-7142

Gisele Gomes | + 55 11 99103-0946   

Thiago Salles | +55 11 95602-8627 [email protected]