The problem: Agribusiness in Brazil is responsible for a significant portion of greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing these emissions is crucial to meeting global climate goals.
The solution: Solar-powered irrigation systems are a potentially efficient, economical, and sustainable solution for agriculture. They provide more stable agricultural production and reduce food waste.
Increased productivity: Studies show that irrigated land can yield significantly more crops compared to rainfed conditions. The Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture aims to expand the area using irrigated systems by 3 million hectares by 2030.
Solar energy potential: Brazil has high solar irradiation, making it ideal for capturing photovoltaic energy. The “Solar Belt” regions in Brazil have seen significant changes due to the adoption of solar energy.
Economic benefits: Setting up photovoltaic power plants requires investments, but they have low maintenance costs and can lead to reduced operational expenses over time. Government incentives also support clean energy projects.
Outlook: Adopting renewable energies like solar is essential for agricultural sustainability and food security. Brazil has the opportunity to lead in the transition to a greener and more prosperous future.
Food production and climate
Reducing the environmental impact of food production is one of Brazil’s primary challenges, especially in light of international goals which aim to decarbonize the planet and limit the global temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
According to the Climate Observatory, agribusiness is responsible for 73.7% of the 2.4 billion tons of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere annually, challenging the sector to drastically reduce its carbon emissions.
Reducing these emissions to curb global warming without compromising global economic growth poses a complex challenge for governments: how to reconcile accelerated technological progress with the urgency of environmental preservation?
Brazil and Fictor Group
Brazil has the 7th largest population in the world and 10th largest economy as measured by nominal GDP. By leveraging its natural resources and the growing international interest, the country can both contribute to reducing global emissions and stand out as a leader in building a more sustainable economy.
Fictor Group operates strategically in three sectors that are essential for economic development: food, infrastructure and financial services.
In the food sector, Fictor seeks innovation and efficiency in the production chain, ensuring quality and sustainability. In infrastructure, Fictor drives projects that produce growth and modernization in different segments.
As a leading player in the Brazilian food and energy sectors, Fictor is uniquely positioned to catalyze and innovate to grow our agricultural and food activities, driving economic development and actively contributing to social well-being.
Fictor has helped communities in Brazil and Portugal benefit from several sustainable energy projects, like the recent announcement that Fictor would be investing upwards of $194 million in eight solar power plants in Goiás, Brazil through a partnership with WTT Participações.
Fictor has also worked on other sustainable energy projects as well as addressing more localized green issues like decarbonizing the Amazon. It combines the promotion of sustainable energy with the generation of economic growth and value creation to its stakeholders.
The promise of clean energy and sustainable irrigation
Global climate uncertainties have contributed to significant fluctuations in energy prices and, in worst cases, shortages and supply interruptions. The adoption of irrigation systems powered by solar energy has emerged as an efficient, economical, and sustainable solution.
These systems ensure more stable agricultural production while contributing to the reduction of food waste. The use of clean energy sources, such as automated irrigation systems powered by photovoltaic panels using solar and wind, has enabled farms to become more sustainable and energy self-sufficient while increasing crop productivity without harming the environment.
Recent studies on grain production show that an irrigated hectare (equal to 2.5 acres) can yield up to 230 sacks of corn, compared to about 135 sacks harvested under rainfed conditions. With this in mind, the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Supply (Mapa) has set a goal to expand the area using irrigated systems by 3 million hectares (7.5 million acres) by 2030.
This movement is expected to further boost the use of solar energy, making cultivation viable in regions far from power substations, which currently depend on more expensive and polluting sources, such as thermoelectric plants.
According to the Brazilian Solar Energy Atlas, Brazil has an average solar irradiation around 5,153 watts per square meter, making the country ideal for capturing photovoltaic energy. Many farmers have already realized the benefits of powering their irrigation systems with renewable electricity.
One region where the landscape has changed significantly is the “Solar Belt,” which includes parts of the Northeast, Southeast, and the Pantanal in Mato Grosso. The northeastern region of the Solar Belt includes semi-arid areas such as Bahia and Piauí, which were once affected by the sun but now benefit from it by converting irradiation into energy.
Today, it is possible to maintain fully energy self-sufficient farms operating off-grid, independent of utility companies. However, all regions of Brazil have the potential for solar generation and can take advantage of renewable energy sources.
Setting up a photovoltaic power plant requires investments in solar panels, inverters, batteries and other equipment. Smaller and longer-lasting than gas- or diesel-powered generators, photovoltaic energy systems have low maintenance costs.
In Brazil, various federal and state government incentives exist for clean energy projects, facilitating infrastructure acquisition. As a result, the investment pays for itself over time by reducing operational expenses (OPEX) related to electricity supply.
The future
It is evident that adopting renewable energies such as solar is essential to ensuring agricultural sustainability and food security in a scenario of climate change and growing demands for efficient production.
However, if no action is taken to expand the use of these technologies and encourage more sustainable practices, we risk facing rising energy costs, greater environmental impact, and an inability to meet global climate goals.
By adopting solutions such as sustainable irrigation powered by solar energy, Brazilian agribusiness has the opportunity to position itself as a leader in the transition to a greener and more prosperous future.
Read more: Regenerative agriculture delivers consistent returns
