Every large production chain is made of huge sums and big achievements. This is not different in Brazilian pig and poultry farming. Numbers in the millions are routine in the balances reported by these sectors, which ship goods to more than 150 countries and occupy the top positions in world exports of animal protein.

But who are the protagonists of this immense success? This is the subject of the work The Power of the Land, an initiative of ABPA in partnership with Apex-Brasil. Composed of delicate pictures of the daily lives of small farmers of the Brazilian South, the book tells the story and traces the profile of characters that, with dedication and discipline, help feed hundreds of millions of people worldwide.

These are stories that show the tender and wholesome side of the families behind a cutting-edge high-technology industry. We speak of people who feel proud of knowing that they serve their loved ones the same food that is exported to more than 150 consumer countries, with full respect for the environment, quality, and biosafety.

More than a book of pictures and text, The Power of the Land is an account that values the farmer as a protagonist of the success of two of the most important economic activities in the country. Have a great reading!

Francisco Turra
Former minister of agriculture and chief executive of ABPA

Brazil owns vast grain fields, fertile lands and favorable weather and is a partner in food safety of various countries in the world.

For various decades Brazil has contributed towards meeting growing demands for animal protein from countries in all five continents by exporting products that are guaranteed to be healthy at affordable prices.

Brazil is present in 150 countries with chicken meat and in 70 countries with pig meat with export volumes that are added to local production, thus complementing supply and contributing towards technological innovation, constantly committed to meeting the specific product quality requirements of each country.

Either by supplying products for processing or supplying global restaurant chains, animal protein exports from Brazil contribute towards generating jobs and income of importing countries. Brazil also helps partner countries in meeting greater demands for specific cuts that are preferred by their populations with great quality and flavor.

Dedication, work, an endless search for excellence, decades of research, use of high technology and heavy investments in production structures. This is how Brazilian poultry and pig farming have reached great levels of efficiency that have transformed them into world references.

A combination of high technology in infrastructure, genetics and feed based on corn and soya produced in Brazil in an integrated system between producers and slaughterhouses have contributed towards making pig and poultry products reach levels of quality that are rarely found in international markets.

As a result, the internationally recognized quality has made poultry and pig meat produced in Brazil stand out among the most desired in the world market. It is extremely healthy; it has unique flavor and texture and reduced levels of fat.

Brazil has great records when it comes to health. Poultry farming has never registered a case of bird flu and Brazil is the only country in this situation among all major producers. In pig farming, full production control has kept the country free from Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDv) and Foot-and-Mouth Disease in production.

Pig and poultry farms and industries follow strict health procedures in highly technological environments. They follow norms established by Codex Alimentarius (FAO) and animal welfare norms.

All meat produced and exported by Brazil – either pig or poultry – undergoes strict quality and health control processes and is fully inspected by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA). Each stage of production is carefully inspected by MAPA that counts on specialized departments with highly trained professionals. Each exporting slaughterhouse includes a Federal Inspection Unit (SIF) that follows this process “in-loco”.

These processes include complex and detailed programs that focus on quality and health controls such as the National Plan for the Control of Residues and Contaminants (PNCRC) that evaluates self-control programs adopted by industries, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), that adopts preventive measures and eliminates any risks to consumers, Sanitation Standards Operating Procedures (SSOP) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).

At the same time, exporting industries are periodically evaluated by the health authorities of various countries from among the 150 countries that Brazil exports to.

Respect for the environment is another marking characteristic of poultry and pig farming in Brazil. Production is based outside the Amazon Biome – in the south, southeast and mid-west regions. The weather and supply of grains are fundamental in guaranteeing production with one of the lowest carbon emission levels in the world. Reforestation, programs for the preservation of water resources and rationalization of inputs contribute towards these results.

These points along with the versatility of Brazilian pig and poultry industries in meeting client orders and the demands and particularities of the five continents guarantee consolidation as the world leader in chicken exports and one of the top positions among world pork exporters.

Few countries in the world have the vocation that Brazil has naturally acquired to be recognized internationally as one of the “Barns of the World”.

In poultry farming it has been no different. Currently, over 150 markets import chicken that is “made in Brazil”. Nearly 4 million tons embark from Brazilian ports. This represents nearly one third of the total production.

Technological excellence in genetics, handling and settings have guaranteed increased production that has positioned Brazil as the world’s third largest producer of chicken meat, with over 12 million tons per year of this protein.

This production chain is composed of dozens of agribusinesses all over the country in regions that are known for their European and Asian colonies.

There are also major egg production centers. The largest of these is located in a city called Bastos that is internationally known as one of the greatest producers in the world.

All these components of the chain contribute towards the greatness of the Brazilian poultry business, its quality, health aspects and efficiency that guarantee the presence of Brazilian products on the table of consumers in all five continents.

The Brazilian poultry industry is highly sustainable and contributes towards environmental protection. According to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) of the United Kingdom, each kilo of chicken in Brazil is produced with nearly half the amount of CO2 emissions if compared with production in England. In numbers, this means that one ton of chicken made in Brazil emits 1.2 CO2 equivalent/ton. In the UK this figure is 2.2. If transport is considered, Brazil emits 2.57 CO2 equivalent/ton and the UK emits 2.82 CO2 equivalent/ton. In other words, in the first case, Brazil has values that are 45% less and in the second case, even considering freight to the European Union, Brazil has a 9% advantage in emissions.

Additionally, Brazilian agribusinesses are located away from the Amazon biome and count on preservation projects for environmental resources. These industries also maintain water conservation projects and special treatment in closed loops. In this respect, Brazil has helped the world by ‘exporting’ water to locations that need it.

The Brazilian recipe for chicken meat exports has worked out very well. Brazil has been in the leading position in terms of world exports since 2004 and contributes towards food safety in over 150 countries in five continents. The strategic partnership with importing countries in complementing market demands, without directly competing with local producers, has guaranteed solid relationships with partners throughout the world.

Brazil is one of the most traditional suppliers of very demanding markets such as Japan and Europe. In Europe, Brazil’s position was consolidated as one of the main suppliers of chicken meat in partnership with the industry, therefore complementing local production.

Brazilian health aspects are also a differential: the country has no registered cases of bird flu. It is the only country in this situation from among all major producers. Strict production control and management models at farms guarantee the continuity of this status.

Brazilian success in this sector has another reason: excellence in quality. With production based on corn and soya, Brazilian chicken is strictly controlled by the country’s authorities and by the authorities of the countries that it exports to.

IMPORTING COUNTRIES

Brazil is among the top ten egg producers. Brazilian egg are present on the consumer tables in more than 22 countries. Strict watchfulness regarding animal health issues, high quality standards and certifications, as well as reliable food safety practices are present on the egg chain and assure total safety for Brazilian egg consumers.

For now, not a single case of avian flu (H5N1) has been detected on the South American continent. Nevertheless, the Brazilian government has been prepared for a possible pandemic since 2003 to speed up the implementation of preventive measures and disease control. Since 2006, the National Plan for Prevention of Avian Influenza and Control and Prevention of Newcastle Disease modernized laboratories, created hygienic barriers and provided technical training and education.

The Brazilian agricultural growth has been driven by productivity, not mobility or deforestation. Without threatening the Amazon rainforest, Brazil has plenty of Land available for expansion. There are today about 30 million hectares of available pastures ready to be improved with modern agriculture practices. Furthermore, of the 850 million hectares of Brazil, 510 million are under Brazilian authorities protection, preventing damage to the Amazon ecosystem.

• Perfect climate: Brazil has the perfect weather for many agricultural products;
• Enough land for expansion: Brazil has plenty of land available to support the growth on the poultry sector, without destroying the Amazon rainforest or any other natural reserve;
• Abundance of corn and soybeans;
• Brazil stands as one of the worlds largest producer;
• Cost competitiveness;
• Adaptability to the world demand;
• Leadership in poultry meat exports.

The generation of residues and the emission of effluents which result from the industrial process require constant improvement in the operations of the various plants. The monitoring of these materials allows the proper control and reduction of the volume of solid waste. The pursuit of alternatives where the final destination of waste will have less impact is a reality in the Brazilian poultry producers and exporters companies. The waste has been used to produce energy and composting to use as fertilizers.

All the animal origin products must have a Seal from the federal inspection service. The seal proves that the production plant and its products works under strict sanitary inspection.

Brazilian poultry producers have adopted biosecurity measures that comprehend rules of producers related to the aviaries location, criteria and restriction of access to them, old day chicks purchase, sanitary handling during the production period, daily cleaning and hygiene after the removal of chickens. All exporters implemented the risk analysis of the different production steps including preventive programs. Statistical control of process has been extend to all units and traceability programs from “farm to table”.

The Hazard Analysis of Critical Control Points (HACCP) is required to egg export plants, even though it was created to be voluntary. This program aims at eliminating all the risks inside the production process. It assures high quality and safe products and is widely accepted internationally.

IMPORTING COUNTRIES

Brazil’s vocation as a food producer is also noticed when it comes to pig farming. It has one of the most advanced productive chains in the world. Pork exporting businesses adopt high-technology and total control in processes for the production of high-quality meat.

The animals are reared in confinement with full sanitary control and total compliance with international animal welfare requirements. Brazilian pig farming mostly adopts integrated management between producers and industries as a production model.

Animal feed is based on corn, soybean meal, wheat flour, sugar, soybean oil, vitamins and minerals and follows strict safety and quality standards. Pigs are reared with traceability in production and total veterinary control in the management of biological inputs.

However, Brazilian pig farming is a lot more than just its products. It is composed of a massive productive chain that generates income and development in the countryside.

Brazilian pig farming also focuses on environmental protection. Companies are installed outside the Amazon biome and adopt programs for recycling and for the reduction of residues.

As such, Brazil consolidated itself as the fourth largest producer of pig meat in the world with 3.3 million tons produced annually. From this total, 600 thousand tons are exported to 70 countries.

Companies and consumers alike are increasingly interested in traceability. Firstly, because they want to control and assure the quality and value of their products. A traceability system makes the company confident enough to publish information on the origin of its products.

Secondly, because a traceability system enables a company to act quickly if there are complaints about the quality of the product: it enables rapid identification of the origin of the product, and correction of the problem.

The systems used for pigs include numbered plastic ear tags and tattoos that people can read easily.

Technological advances in this area are part of the domain of internet information flows between central databases. The main advantages of identification systems using ear tags and tattoos are that they can easily be seen by people and are relatively inexpensive.

Reading and recording the identity can be automated, leading to quicker and more accurate identification. Ear tags placed on pigs’ ears can communicate with electronic transponders on the hooks in the slaughterhouses. They can thus transfer vital information from the pigs to the carcasses and subsequent pieces.

Each segment of production is therefore controlled so as to optimize the entire production system.

IMPORTING COUNTRIES