Solidaridad Network joins Brazilian sugarcane industry in retraining sugarcane cutters displaced by mechanization

SAO PAULO, Nov. 10, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Solidaridad Network, one of the most prominent global non-government organizations supporting the development of sustainable production chains, headquartered in The Netherlands, is the newest partner of the RenovAcao Project. The agreement was signed on Wednesday (November 3), after a meeting at the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association's (UNICA) regional office in Ribeirao Preto, in the heart of Brazil's most important cane growing region.

"Adding an organization like Solidaridad to the RenovAcao Project is extremely significant, because it adds recognition to our efforts and positive results achieved so far to improve the quality of life and generate new opportunities for sugarcane cutters. With time, we hope to welcome more companies and organizations so that we can continue to improve and expand our reach," said UNICA's Executive Director, Eduardo Leao de Sousa.

Introduced in 2009, the RenovAcao Project was designed to retrain up to seven thousand workers per year, both those working in sugarcane manual harvesting operations as well as members of the communities where mills are located. The training programs qualify workers for new activities within the mill, often connected with expanding mechanization. Alternatively, workers can also be trained to work in other sectors of the economy where there is demand.

The initiative was developed by UNICA in partnership with the largest labor union representing sugarcane cutters in Sao Paulo State, the Federation of Rural Workers of the State of Sao Paulo (Feraesp). RenovAcao is also supported by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and sponsored by Syngenta, Case IH and John Deere.

The Projects Coordinator for the Solidaridad Network in Brazil, Fatima Cristina Cardoso, sees at least two important points in the partnership. "We want to prioritize the presence of women in the courses offered for mechanized activities within the mills and also dedicate part of the resources to courses focused on the construction industry, a sector with growing demand for skilled labor across the state," she explained.

During the final meeting in Ribeirao Preto, with representatives from UNICA, Feraesp, Solidaridad and the companies that sponsor RenovAcao, it was agreed that the initial contribution by the Solidaridad Network would total 90 thousand euros, with a second investment in the same amount slated for mid-2011. Until then, the group will meet several times to examine results obtained by the Project on an ongoing basis.

After the meeting, all participants visited the National Industry Service (Senai) of Ribeirao Preto, one of the organizations that administers the many different courses offered by RenovAcao.

ABOUT UNICA

The Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA – www.unica.com.br) represents the top producers of sugar, ethanol and bioelectricity in the country's South-Central region, especially the state of Sao Paulo, which accounts for about 50% of the country's sugarcane harvest and 60% of total ethanol production. In 2009, Brazil produced an estimated 605 million metric tons of sugarcane, raw-material used to produce 33 million tons of sugar and 26 billion liters of ethanol.

ABOUT SOLIDARIDAD NETWORK

Solidaridad Network is an international network organization with more than 20 years of experience in creating fair and sustainable supply chains from producer to consumer. Originating in Holland, Solidaridad Network currently has nine regional centers, including South America, comprised by the offices in Buenos Aires and Sao Paulo. In Brazil, the network has projects to support the sustainable trade and production in several ago-industrial chains, such as, the sugar and ethanol, soybean, cotton, livestock, palm oil and cocoa. In the case of sugarcane, Solidaridad supports the development of the Better Sugar Initiative (BSI) certification in the country, aimed at environmental and social improvements in the sector.

SOURCE Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA)