The Coruripe Group has three distinct types of agronomic management due to the distinct characteristics of our three production centers (Coruripe in Alagoas; Campo Florido, Iturama, Limeira D'Oeste and Carneirinho in Minas Gerais). For the 23rd, 24th harvest we will have a production area of 192,054 hectares and an estimated production of 15 million tons of sugarcane.

Coruripe Hub: With the scarcity of expansion areas and because it is contained in a restrictive production environment, we invested a lot in agronomic solutions that would verticalize our production, and the most expressive of them was irrigation. Today we have 25,000 hectares of irrigated sugarcane fields (drip, pivot and sprinkler), which allow for an average productivity gain of around 23% over rainfed areas. In these irrigated areas, we can manage the ideal harvest time in order to prioritize the cutting of rainfed areas at the beginning of the harvest (wetter season) leaving the irrigated sugarcane to be harvested from the middle to the end of the harvest.

We also have the option of irrigating the planting areas in the summer (December to March) as this is a period when there is less rainfall. Three application systems are used in fertirrigation: localized, sprinkler via trucks and sprinkler via channels and pipelines. Another advance that comes in line with irrigation was the implementation of mechanized harvesting , whereby the remaining straw from the harvest is transformed into a true protective mattress for the soil, maintaining humidity, increasing levels of organic matter and controlling weeds. weeds in such restrictive environments.

At the same time, we work to raise the awareness of our suppliers together with the Association of Cane Suppliers of Coruripe (responsible for 35% of the raw material of this unit) for the adoption of this type of harvest, bearing in mind that our trays are ideal for a good performance of equipment and the growing shortage of manpower needed to cut sugarcane over the last few harvests.

A delicate aspect in the unit is varietal handling. Despite agreements with research entities in the search for promising materials, we have a long way to go when compared to the diversity of consolidated varieties in the Center, south. Today our varietal census has a very high degree of vulnerability, and this worries us a lot, as the releases of promising varieties are at a pace below our needs.

In soil preparation, the minimum tillage system is used with crop rotation (crotalaria and beans). In the case of beans, this is a social project in conjunction with the municipalities in the region where the Plant cedes areas for renovations that have already been prepared and needy communities carry out the planting and harvesting of beans; afterwards, the plant closes with the planting of sugarcane. These projects currently benefit 950 families.

Campo Florido Pole: Campo Florido is our largest unit, with capacity to crush 4.2 million tons of sugarcane per harvest, and the particularity of being supplied by 100% of the sugarcane from suppliers. It is located in the Campo Florido region of Minas Gerais, and has a very favorable production environment (red, red-yellow and yellow latosols, environments B, C and D) and a history of annual rainfall of 1,710 millimeters.

With the technical support of the local Cane Suppliers Association and monitoring by our agricultural team, the 50 suppliers are guided on the ideal agronomic practices for the development of their crops. Some highlights are the use of industry by-products such as vinasse and filter cake. In the case of vinasse, the fertirrigation operation (aspersion) is carried out by the plant, and the applications of enriched and localized vinasse are carried out by the suppliers themselves. The filter cake, on the other hand, is provided by the Plant, and each supplier is responsible for the composting and application processes in the field.

In soil preparation areas, crop rotation with soybeans is a common practice, covering practically 100% of the reform and expansion areas. After the end of the grain harvest, suppliers start sugarcane planting campaigns, respecting the best management techniques and the ideal period to carry out these operations. The combination of these factors, allied to the region's production potential, has generated yields of 13,000 kilograms of total recoverable sugar per hectare over the last few harvests!

Iturama Hub: Located in the Pontal do Triângulo Mineiro region, the Iturama, Carneirinho and Limeira D'Oeste units make up the Group's third production block, covering an area of 101,000 hectares and producing 7.5 million tons of cane. Its production areas are made up of 55% of its own cane fields and 45% of supplier cane fields. In this block, suppliers are technically supported by the Iturama Suppliers Association and by the technical team of the Plant's Suppliers Portfolio.

Due to the fact that the Iturama Complex is inserted in a more restrictive production environment (59% of the areas are located in production environments D and E, and rainfall of 1,370 millimeters per year) the company has been investing in technological solutions that leverage productivity of our cane fields. In recent years, several irrigation and fertigation projects have been developed. In Limeira D'Oeste, a 14-kilometer long pressurized pipeline for vinasse was built and a sprinkler irrigation project was implemented via reels in an area of 4,500 hectares in the same block.

At the Iturama unit, we have two projects in progress. The first is a 34.5-kilometer-long “mixed” pressurized pipeline covering 6,200 hectares, which transports vinasse for fertirrigation in the direction of the plant and the field, and in the opposite direction, water for irrigation. The second project that is being finalized is a pipeline for rescue irrigation, with capacity to cover an area of 5,800 hectares, and will be required in the event of water shortages. In areas not covered by water mains, fertigation has been carried out with enriched vinasse (Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Boron) and, in a localized manner, using applicator trucks.

Soil preparation in this Pole requires some care, especially those related to areas of expansion in the cerrado biome. Normally, soil analyzes recommend high doses of correctives and the need for phosphates , in addition to the planting of legumes. Even with all these investments, the productivity of the sugarcane fields, obtained in the first production cycles, may be insufficient.

Another interesting management, and one that has given good results, is the planting of composted filter cake in the winter and meiosis planting areas. Normally, these areas are adjacent to industrial areas and, therefore, can be contemplated with wastewater irrigation and fertirrigation. Allied to all these techniques, good planning and execution of activities within the premises of our internal operational efficiency program must be added.