Petrobras and Embrapa sign cooperation agreement for research into low-carbon products and fertilizers

By Petrobras

Sep 6, 2024

This is a machine translation of the press release originally published in Portuguese

Petrobras and Embrapa signed, this Friday (6/9), a Cooperation Agreement (TC) to develop technical studies on renewable raw materials to obtain low-carbon products, including biofuels, green chemistry and fertilizers.

The partnership involves Petrobras developing technological solutions and implementing industrial units for the production of biofuels and bioproducts. In return, Embrapa is developing a protocol for low-carbon agricultural crops, such as soybeans, involving rational agricultural techniques, such as the certification protocol for this crop.

The cooperation agreement also includes the development of alternative crops to soybeans, off-season and intercropped crops, such as off-season corn, carinata (a type of oilseed), among other options that reflect the range of options for agroenergy in the country's different biomes and production systems.

“Diversification and access to raw materials with sustainability, quality and adequate cost are fundamental to the success of these initiatives, such as biofuels. In addition, the company is interested in offering fertilizer products to increase availability in the domestic market, as well as to meet the goals of the National Fertilizer Plan. Embrapa has the necessary expertise to help leverage these projects,” said Petrobras CEO Magda Chambriard.

“For Embrapa, the resumption of the partnership with Petrobras is strategic to enhance its contributions to rural producers and to national and international public policies, especially in bioeconomy and sustainable development,” said Silvia Massruhá, the company’s president. She recalled that, in 2023, Brazil reached the milestone of 100 million Decarbonization Credits (CBIOS) issued, which will result in up to R$1.2 trillion reais, between investments and savings over the next ten years. “This was possible thanks to Renovacalc, a tool developed by Embrapa and fundamental in the National Biofuels Policy (RenovaBio), led by the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels ( ANP ),” reported Massruhá.

Fertilizers: promoting new products

In the fertilizer sector, the goal is to promote the development of new products and their insertion in the agribusiness market. Among these, we can highlight new fertilizers based on urea with higher added value, mixed fertilizers, fertilizers with differentiated granulometry and new sustainable inputs with lower environmental impact. These initiatives aim to pave the way for Petrobras' business recovery and prepare the company for a decarbonized future. Embrapa is an important partner in both the development and the proof of the agronomic efficiency of these products. With this, we hope to make it possible for farmers to offer and use these innovations, providing fertilizers adapted to the country's crops and soils, which will allow for higher-yield harvests for Brazil.

“This partnership includes topics such as biomethane and biogas, in the context of the Sectoral Plan for Adaptation to Climate Change and Low Carbon Emissions in Agriculture, as well as the formation of research and development networks in more sustainable raw materials,” revealed Silvia Massruhá.

“We believe that technical and scientific data will be extremely important in the development of new products for the fertilizer market. Petrobras is committed to developing new solutions to serve this sector, which is so strategic for Brazil,” said Chambriard.

Investment in fertilizers is once again part of Petrobras' portfolio, according to the Strategic Plan (PE) 2024-2028. In August, the company announced the resumption of activities at the Araucária Nitrogenados SA (ANSA) fertilizer plant in Araucária (PR), and with this, it will begin its operation to produce urea, ARLA 32 (Automotive Liquid Reducing Agent) and Ammonia in the country in the first half of 2025.