Agro: Transforming People’s Lives for 10 Years

Cícera Borges: “Looking back, nobody would have imagined a women driving a tractor”

Odebrecht Agroindustrial is celebrating its 10-year anniversary. Over the course of a single decade, it has played an important role in Brazilian agribusiness. It has transformed itself into the largest supplier of ethanol and clean electric energy to the domestic market. More than this: it has fulfilled its role of transforming the lives of thousands of people.

With 11,000 members, the Business has accumulated 6 million hours in training, with 400,000 people participating, and some R$ 80 million invested in professional qualification courses at its nine Agroindustrial Units.

Eber Santana – who works at the Eldorado Center Laboratory and has been a member of Agro since its creation – is a concrete example of the company’s investment in people. “I never thought I would become a leader and stay here for 10 years,” said Santana. “I had the opportunity to enroll in an undergraduate and graduate program, and was always encouraged by the company. It has been 10 years with many gains,” he said.

Cícera Borges has also been a member for 10 years. She works in the Crop Handling area at the São Paulo Center and revealed the pride she has in her work. “Looking back, nobody would have imagined a women driving a tractor,” said Borges. And today, it’s more common than not. It is an immense source of joy. I love working the fields,” she said.

Believing in People

During the last harvest alone, the Acreditar (Believe) Program trained 244 people through 17 qualification courses for the sugar-energy industry, while Acreditar Jr. (Believe Jr.) Program benefited 415 youth. Last year, Odebrecht Agroindustrial also created the Acreditar na Diversidade (Believe in Diversity) Project to include People with Special Needs in the job market. Developed at the São Paulo Center, the project was recognized by the UN in 2016 during the 10-year celebrations for the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Through the Social Energy Program, which is based on participative management, the company maintains its commitment to the communities in which it is present and has already invested over R$21 million in 72 projects developed in the areas of Health, Education, Environmental Preservation, Culture, and Production Activities, directly benefiting some 150,000 people.

“The Unit’s arrival changed our city,” revealed Lucas da Silva, who works as a driver at the Costa Rica Unit. “It improved everyone’s life,” he said. He and his wife, Dielma Pellet, who works in the Administrative Services area, has two children, both of whom participate in the Florestinha (Little Forest) Project, maintained in the municipality by Social Energy since 2015. “I hope that one day, my two children can work at the company and have the same pride that I do to wear this badge on my chest,” said Pellet.

Agro has also generated some good results in its operations. During these past 10 years, the Business has produced 11.5 billion liters of ethanol, capable of preventing 23 million tons of carbon gas from being released into the atmosphere; 3.5 million tons of sugar; and 9,500 GWh of electricity, showing that it is indeed possible to pair production with the construction of a clean future.