Organics Brazil is a success story

The Brazilian program OrganicsBrasil is designed to promote Brazilian organic and sustainable producers worldwide. It is maintained by Apex-Brasil, the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency, that is an executive department of the Brazilian Ministry of Trade and Industry. The mission of OrganicsBrasil is to increase the international trade in organics. Therefore, it participates in international fairs like BioFach around the globe, Expo West in California and other events and business meetings. After more than 10 years, OrganicsBrasil can look back with pride.

A broad range of different agricultural products is available in Brazil. Photo Karin Heinze

30 % growth last year

Ming Liu, the executive coordinator of OrganicsBrasil project, presented the “Trend panel and News of the organic markets of Brazil and the United State” at BioFach in Nuremberg, which illustrates the potential of Brazil and the products in all their diversity. “The distribution of certified production items showed growth of 30 % from 2013 to 2014.”
Especially the Brazilian regions inn the south and south-east recorded an increase in primary production last year, because the number of certifications is more representative. Another factor that can explain this growth trend lies in the richness of Brazil´s biodiversity: in any biome, typical products can be found relevant to healthiness and wellness across all global markets. Product trends such as the Amazon fruit (acai, guarana), Cerrado nuts (cashews, Brazil nuts), sugar, honey and the south´s grapes are some of the ingredients that we see emerging as end products in the markets,” explains Ming Liu.

Small farmers’ cooperatives offer many interesting products and are supported by the government: a member of the government visiting a producer of Brazil nuts. Photo Karin Heinze

Potential to be developed

“Certainly, there is potential to be developed in Brazil,” says Ming Liu. Brazil has one of the most significant biodiversities in the world, with its extensive territory divided into 6 natural biomes. Each biome establishes its own set of fauna, flora and soil, with specific social and cultural manifestations in its population, making this agricultural production something unique in the world. Furthermore it is one of the countries with regulations for the social development of the productive sector, especially targeted at small producers and family farms. Brazil is one of the few countries that allow the participatory certification process through social agencies, which is to the disadvantage of countries that do not recognize this procedure.

With his OrganicsBrasil team, Ming Liu promotes Brazilian organic produce at global events. Photo Karin Heinze

"The Brazilian government has already started discussions with the European Union to operate equivalence. However, this is a process that is as fast as that between Japan and the United States. The lack of equivalence represents a financial disadvantage for Brazilian products in international markets to the extent that there is the cost that producers in other countries no longer have and we must reverse this situation. Having a strategic equivalence will be to have a significant international presence,” admits Ming Liu from OrganicsBrasil.

There are many Brazilian companies with international experience in the organic sector. Photo Karin Heinze

Companies that exhibited at the BioFach show

OrganicsBrasil increased its number of companies within ten years from 2005 to 2015 from 12 enterprises to 100 and the export volume from 9.5 million US-Dollars to around 150 million US-Dollars. Not only food products are offered but also natural cosmetics and textiles.

Examples of the large portfolio of products and the professionality of enterprises were demonstrated by the companies represented at BioFach: 

Brasilbev with the energy drink Organique - with Amazonian ingredients - açaí, guaraná with mate. The company launched organic mate tea with açaí. 
Jalles Machado is the producer of sugar Itajá and offers different types of sugar cane products. The company also has VHP, used for refining and in the food industry, already exported to countries like Russia, United Arab Emirates, Nigeria, Indonesia, Bangladesh and India.

Graphic: OrganicsBrasil increased its number of companies within ten years from 12 to 100.

Native is the largest producer and exporter of sugar and organic alcohol in the world. The company has over 150 products in its portfolio - juices, cereals, chocolate. It is present in more than 60 countries on all continents: 
MN Própolis is a pioneer in honey and propolis certificates that exports to over 20 countries (Picture).
Triunfo do Brasil - has been operating for over 50 years in the production of organic yerba mate, the company has the largest organic mate plantation in Brazil and exports 100% of its mate for the five continents of the world.
Beraca - the international company is specialized in Rain Forest oils, seeds and extracts that are ideal for the cosmetics industry.

More information:

Watch a video interview about the
 OrganicBrazil here
Organics Brasil website