The state of Rio Grande do Sul – in South Brazil – and the Kingdom of the Netherlands have synergies for potential partnership, collaboration and trade in agribusinesses, logistics, ports, renewable energy

The Port of Rio Grande and Tecon – largest private container terminal in Rio Grande do Sul – agribusinesses, research institution and political stakeholders were visited by Richard Posma and Lucila Almeida, from the NSBO Porto Alegre in the cities of Rio Grande and Pelotas, in Rio Grande do Sul State, in February. Innovation, partnerships, collaboration and businesses were the subjects discussed in the meetings with local entrepreneurs and political leaderships, as well as Embrapa, the federal agriculture research institution.

At the Port of Rio Grande, the Dutch delegation discussed about cooperation opportunities with the port authorities. “Rio Grande is a historical city, with a maritime and port connections similar to many Dutch cities, and we have been trying to focus more and more sustainability, trying to defend and exploring our natural characteristics to promote the economic, social and environmental development of the city”, said the Mayor of Rio Grande, Fábio de Oliveira Branco, when welcomed the NSBO Porto Alegre.

According to him, the attraction of international companies to the industrial district of the city is part of this policy.

“We have a great potential on subjects like onshore, offshore and nearshore wind energy, green hydrogen, port activities, fishing, aquiculture, tourism and innovation, among others. Consequently, the proximity of NSBO Porto Alegre is very positive, and we hope to make concrete partnerships with Dutch companies and government very soon”, said the Mayor of Rio Grande, Fábio de Oliveira Branco.

In Pelotas the topics discussed were agribusiness, renewable energy and soil management, mainly hydric management. The visit took place during the 33rd Official Opening of the Rice and Grains Harvest in Low Lands. The meetings started with representatives from Embrapa Research Center Temperate Climate, and the focus was on the possibility of cooperation for studies, research, and businesses related to soil management. The State is responsible for approximately 70% of the rice production in Brazil, and the grain is cultivated in 183 cities in RS.

The general Head Office of Embrapa Research Center Temperate Climate, Roberto Pedroso de Oliveira, pointed that only in Rio Grande do Sul, there are 4 million hectares on agroecosystem, called Low Lands, which is similar to the Dutch soils, which justifies a possible technological partnership in this area.

“Brazil and the Netherlands are very important countries in the the production and commercialization of food. Brazil stands out for the volume of production. It is among to the five biggest world producers of several vegetal species, fiber and energy, while the Netherlands stand out for the productivity and for being one of the main gateways to Europe. Embrapa is linked to the Agriculture and Livestock Ministry and some of its professionals pursued Doctorate degree at the University of Wageningen”, said the general Head Office of Embrapa Research Center Temperate Climate, Roberto Pedroso de Oliveira.

The possibility of a partnership on the production of fruit and vegetable, focusing on sustainable production, was also highlighted by Oliveira. According to him, plant nutrition and irrigation are points that take part on the subject. “The same way, we have interests on subjects like monitoring and mitigation of greenhouse gas emission and adaptation to the climate changes on system of agricultural production and the carbon market. In this context, Brazil is opened for investment from Dutch companies, both on the production of supplies for agribusiness as well as investments of port infrastructure and energy production”, he reinforced.

Rio Grande

The schedule in Rio Grande started with the company Rio Grande Fumigações, where the main topics discussed were the legislation and how fumigation works on agricultural commodities. Attended the meeting the company CEO, Luiz Ernesto Simões Alves, the director Cristian Luiz da Rosa Alves, the agronomy engineer Alonzo Carinji da Silva, the researcher of Embrapa Clima Temperado, Julio José Centeno da Silva, and the specialist Rodrigo Brunett.

At Portos RS, NBSO Porto Alegre was welcomed by the president of the institution, Cristiano Klinger, by the manager of Planning and Development, Fernando Estima, by the head of office of the president, Flávio Ferreira, by the manager of Port Operations, Luiz Henrique Dumont, and by the engineering manager, Karen Hartman. There were discussions about investment, logistic, energy and the its maritime potential. The waterway system is strategically important for Rio Grande do Sul.

“We have plans to transform it into a reference in the area of water port system management, especially among the countries from the Southern Cone (Cone Sul). With the Netherlands, we see a potential on the commercial relationship and the possibility of importing technology to our activities. In this relationship there is also renewable energy. We from Portos RS, as logistic connection for the execution of all this, are talking about green hydrogen and offshore wind energy. We see potential for the implementation of new industries at these segments and the exportation of this energy to the rest of the world,” said the President of Porto RS, Cristiano Klinger.

According to Klinger, “the next step is the formulation of the memorandum of an understanding to identify all the potential of this relationship and to advance the refinement of the information to generate business between the Portos RS and all the chain of the Netherlands. To evolve this relationship”.

The visitors also had a chance to know the structure of the mooring docks of the public port and the storage area, as well as the logistic of how the Terminal de Containers (Tecon) works. Present at the meeting were the President of Tecon Rio Grande, Paulo Bertinetti, and the responsible for the commercial area, Daina Valin.

The visit was followed by the advisor of the City hall of Rio Grande, Guilherme Estima Schuch, the City Mayor Fábio de Oliveira Branco also welcomed the Dutch group.

Pelotas

In Pelotas, the meetings started with the representatives of Embrapa Research Center Tempered Climate and the focus was the possibility of cooperation for studies, research and business related to soil management.

The meeting had the participation of the researcher and general chief, Roberto Pedroso de Oliveira; the Deputy Chief analyst, Carlos Leandro Padilha Barneche; the researcher and Deputy Chief, Gustavo Heiden; the researcher and supervisor Julio José Centeno da Silva.

The agribusiness market and sector were the themes of the meeting with the Federação da Agricultura do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, Farsul (Agricultural Federation of the State of Rio Grande do Sul). Attended the meeting the president of the Sindicato Rural de Pelotas (Rural Union of Pelotas) and director of Farsul, Fernando Rechsteiner.

At the Pelotas City Hall, the deputy mayor Idemar Barz welcomed the team of NBSO Porto Alegre. There were also present the City Secretary of Government and Strategic Actions, Fábio Machado, and the researcher of Embrapa, Julio Centeno.