The sugar-energy sector has become synonymous with technological evolution. With consistent investments in research and innovation, the production chain is modernized to take not only food to the world, but also to produce renewable energy, such as ethanol and bioenergy, which are fundamental in the diversification of the energy matrix.

In this new cycle of a secular culture, the sugarcane processing industry plays a prominent role. In the beginning, rudimentary and focused only on the production of sugar. In current times, innovative and essential for new derivations and purposes. Today, the plants are centers of operations, bringing more efficiency that, in addition to providing better results, contribute to the generation of a smaller "environmental footprint", with a rational use of resources and a reduction in the emission of gases and the generation of waste.

Operational efficiency became possible with the evolution of the industry, now more modern and integrated, which allows improving the operation through the so-called Industry 4.0 processes. Artificial intelligence systems, internet of things and cloud computing become facilitators for decision making, allowing to add more value to the business.

At BP Bunge Bioenergia, with 11 processing units in five Brazilian states, industrial improvement is centered on operational excellence. On a day-to-day basis, we seek to continuously improve processes and systems, sharing good practices and knowledge among the plants. An important indicator for the industry is uptime, which, in practice, represents the use of industrial time. In other words, the capacity that the mills have to process sugarcane, without interruptions. For this, we have online monitoring solutions, whose objective is to ensure that the equipment does not fail.

In general terms, it works like this: sensors are installed in the machines, such as steam turbines, shredder engines and boiler exhausts, capable of detecting vibrations, temperatures and other variables that can cause a change in the behavior of the equipment. This information is shared in real time with the control center present at each of the plants. After analyzing the data, adjustments for maintenance are recommended.

The use of automation for online monitoring can still be applied in several stages of processing, and not just with the objective of preventing failures. These technology solutions act, for example, to increase the efficiency of equipment. Artificial intelligence is able to “read” and “learn” how machines work. The recorded data are interpreted by a monitoring center, which, using algorithms, makes recommendations that help in strategies to maximize the extraction of sugar from the plant.

In addition, with more accessible technology resources, mills have developed projects to digitize processes. By reading QR Codes, it is possible to have online and offline access to data related to the use of machines, operational documents, maintenance instructions, among other possibilities. The industry moves fast. The evolution of technology is limitless and has several agents that, daily, make use of countless solutions, many of them offered by technology and research centers and also by agro startups, the agritechs.

However, for innovations to be put into practice, it is necessary to have qualifications. This is the biggest challenge for the sector. New technologies promote a professional transformation, in which more specific skills become necessary to act in a more current and dynamic format. This training, in part, is also the responsibility of our segment, which, through training, qualifications and partnerships with associations and educational institutions, makes employees capable of the new functions brought about by the digital transformation.

It is essential that companies develop professionals capable of dealing with these new work resources within the plants. In addition to ensuring excellence in equipment performance, these updates must protect and preserve essential values for a safe industrial operation. The sugar-energy sector is strategic for the world and the efficiency of its industrial operation is a direction for evolution. Rich in nutrients, sugarcane is the main supplier of inputs for our industry. From it, we extract what is needed and, at the same time, we manage to return it to the ground.

In the journey of digital transformation, the innovation and technology resources of the plants of the present and the future should not be treated as an end in itself, but as a means to achieve profitability from the business point of view and, above all, with performance environmentally sustainable.