Native Production Cycle

One of the most important applications of Balbo Group agronomic knowledge is the global production system, started in 1987, known as the Green Cane Project. Its original goal was to develop a selfsustainable sugarcane production system, aiming to realize all the ecological and conservationist potential of this crop.

This task has taken thousands of hours in research and huge investments, including developing a harvester for unburnt sugarcane in partnership with the harvester’s manufacturer, the systematization of crop fields for mechanized harvesting, searching for adequate sugarcane cultivars, organic fertilization, phytosanitary care and soil preparation, among other activities.

From sugarcane planting until its industrial processing, the highest available technology was integrated to the ancient human knowledge in organic stewardship of land. As a result, São Francisco Mill was certified organic in October, 1997.

UFRA currently organically grows 7,500 hectares with sugarcane. Another 7,500 hectares from Usina Santo Antonio were also converted to organic and certified in order to complement the raw material necessities of São Francisco mill. This area of 15.000 hectares is therefore enough to organically supply the entire UFRA’s harvest season.