Farmers in Santa Catarina advance in sustainable production with the support of the Klabin Transforms - Social Forests Program, a program to strengthen family farming 
 
Paraná, October 17, 2024 – On Agriculture Day, October 17, Klabin, Brazil's largest producer and exporter of packaging paper and paper packaging, highlights the initiatives implemented to support and strengthen rural workers through the Klabin Transforms - Social Forests Program. This initiative is a collaboration between Klabin, the Association for the Preservation of the Environment and Life (Apremavi), Small Company Support Service (Sebrae), and is supported by municipal governments and the Agricultural Research and Rural Extension Company (Epagri) in Santa Catarina.

Throughout its 125-year history, Klabin has recognized the importance of the activity for the country's economy and sustainable development. Among the programs implemented, Klabin Transforms - Social Forests has established itself as a successful initiative for promoting rural production through innovative management techniques. It has also contributed to ensuring that properties comply with environmental legislation and has even supported the commercialization of products. In addition, it promotes training initiatives, diversification of properties, and encouragement of associative practices and cooperativism. Thus, the program positively impacts the production of small rural producers benefitted in the State, ensuring higher productivity and increased income. 

The initiative is developed in 11 municipalities 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, Correia Pinto, Otacílio Costa, Palmeira and Ponte Alta).

"The Klabin Transforms - Social Forests Program, in addition to assisting small producers and promoting family farming, also contributes to food security by providing food to the National School Feeding Program (PNAE) and the Food Purchasing Program (PAA)." In this way, there is a greater return for the farmers, a gain in sustainability, and a benefit for the entire community," says Uilson Paiva, Social Responsibility and Community Relations manager at Klabin.

Hamilton Soares dos Santos, a resident of Otacílio Costa and owner of Sítio do Sossego, expanded the production of vegetables and increased profit with the stimulus of the program. "The technicians have been providing me with guidance to enhance my work. I put what I learn into practice to produce lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, snap beans, bell pepper, parsley, chives, and tomatoes," he says. 

 

Now, he hopes to continuously evolve to deliver better results for the customers. "I want to grow as a farmer and offer quality products. I am very proud of my work, as I devote time, attention, and commitment to becoming better every day, constantly striving for improvements and innovations," concludes Hamilton. 

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 in Paraná where it operates (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).

Created in 2015, it was conceived based on studies conducted by Klabin to identify local needs that justified social and environmental investments in the region. Since then, the program has assisted small rural producers through every stage of production, from environmental compliance to support for food marketing. In addition, it promotes training initiatives, diversification of properties, and encouragement of associative practices and cooperativism.

 

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