The Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) has approved R$ 83.96 million in financing for three projects of the Sugarcane Technology Center (CTC), focused on innovation in the sugar-energy sector.
The resources, made available through the BNDES Mais Inovação line, will be primarily allocated to advancing synthetic sugarcane seed technology and developing a variety resistant to the sugarcane weevil.Sphenophorus levis).
Of the total investment, R$ 165.54 million will be applied to the projects, including R$ 72.9 million from Finep and R$ 8.68 million in CTC's own resources.
One of the highlights is the implementation of the first industrial demonstration plant for synthetic seed production, a technology considered strategic for increasing the productivity of Brazilian sugarcane fields.
The proposal seeks to replace the conventional planting model, which requires more than 16 tons of stalks per hectare, with a system similar to that used in crops such as corn and soybeans. With approximately 400 kilograms of synthetic seeds per hectare, the technology promises to reduce operational costs, fuel consumption, water use, and impacts such as soil compaction and erosion.
In addition to agronomic and environmental benefits, the project also aims to accelerate the renewal of sugarcane fields and support CTC's goal of doubling sugarcane productivity in Brazil by 2040, in line with the challenges of the energy transition.
This text was translated by machine from Brazilian Portuguese.