Meeting organized by Klabin’s Social Forests Program and the Comitê Territorial Vale do Tibagi brought together 14 municipalities in the Campos Gerais region

Paraná, January 30, 2024 – How can municipal governments increase their purchases from family farmers in their municipalities and across the region, and make the processes related to the preparation of purchase notices more seamless? How can school meals include fruits and vegetables grown in the nearest locations? To answer these questions and improve relations between cooperatives and farmers associations with the government, Klabin, Sebrae, Interação Urbana and the Comitê Territoria Vale do Tabagi organized the first Workshop on Purchases from Family Farmers at the Harmonia Clube in Telêmaco Borba. The event was attended by 120 people, including municipal authorities and secretaries, nutritionists, cooperatives and family farming associations, representatives of the School Meal Councils and other entities. 

Participants clarified their doubts on Family Farming Purchase processes after a presentation by Abner Geraldo Picinatto, consultant. One example mentioned during the seminar was the National School Meal Program (PNAE), a federal government initiative designed to guarantee the supply of healthy and balanced meals to basic education students in public schools. Also, success cases related to the process of purchasing from family farmers in Telêmaco Borba and Rio Branco do Ivaí were presented. Representatives from the 14 municipalities met around thematic tables to exchange experiences, as well as listing challenges and opportunities for better communication and preparation of purchase notices. The event also provided a broader view of other programs, such as the exchange of waste and the Food Purchasing Program (PAA), which help promote family farming, quality of life and sustainability.

Representatives from Arapoti, Cândido de Abreu, Curiúva, Imbaú, Ivaí, Jaguariaíva, Ortigueira, Reserva, Rio Branco do Ivaí, Sapopema, São Jerônimo da Serra, Telêmaco Borba, Tibagi and Ventania attended the meeting. At the end of the event, participants designed action plans with strategies to increase the sales of food produce from family farmers to the municipal governments.

According to Ilário Cizanska, secretary of the Cooperativa Coopercandi based in Cândido de Abreu, event enabled a unique integration of production, technical aspects and management of programs. “I believe we will see a visible change after the meeting, aligning our thoughts for continuous growth and improvement”, said Cizanska.

“The event delivered on its goal of bringing rural producers closer to large food purchasers, which are their own municipalities”, said Uilson Paiva, Social Responsibility and Community Relations manager at Klabin. 

For Suellen Pavanelo, a consultant at Sebrae, the event was important to identify the resources available for municipalities, expand the programs, comply with local purchase quotas of 30% established in legislation, and implement efficient processes for these purchases.
Claudemir Correia, president of the Comitê Territorial Vale do Tibagi, assesses that this type of activity acts as a key driver of strengthening the community. “Comitê Territorial Vale do Tibagi, together with Klabin and Sebrae, has formed a powerful alliance with the common goal of promoting progress and sustainability in the region”, he said.

About the Social Forests program

The Social Forests – Planning Sustainable Properties program is the result of a partnership between Klabin, Apremavi and Sebrae.  It aims to contribute to the economic, environmental and social development of small and midsized rural properties in the 11 municipalities where it operates in Paraná (Cândido de Abreu, Curiúva, Imbaú, Ortigueira, Reserva, Rio Branco do Ivaí, Sapopema, São Jerônimo da Serra, Telêmaco Borba, Tibagi and Ventania) and five in Santa Catarina (Lages, Otacílio Costa, Correia Pinto, Palmeira and Ponte Alta).