9th IWCSPP

The global grain volume has been rising significantly and the harvesting structure has not followed this growth. In Brazil alone, producers have been obtaining production records every harvest, without proportionate investments in post-harvesting. With globalization, commercial transactions are made instantly e demand ever more geared logistics. This is the background that will direct the debates at the 9th International Working Conference on Stored Product Protection, which is held in Campinas, SP, from 15th to 18th October. The event already counts with the participation of representatives from more than 35 countries.
The main obstacles to harvesting outflow, according to CONAB (National Food Supply Company), are concentrated in three points: harvesting – roads – ports. The last survey on post-harvest losses, made by the Brazilian government more than ten years ago, showed losses of more than 1.34 billion dollars a year. The updating of this data is being made by CONAB and should be one of the highlights of the Conference.
Currently, Brazilian static storage capacity is at 114.4 million tons, to store a harvest that is over 120 million tons.
Distribution of warehouses in Brazil (CONAB, 2006) is 50% in the urban zone, 32% in the rural zone (large structures, cooperatives and others), 13% in farms (small proprieties) and 5% in ports. In storage capacities of small proprieties alone, compared to countries like Argentina (35%) and USA (65%), the size of the problem in Brazil (13%) becomes evident.
In logistics, the country relies on a railroad network built over 100 years ago, controlled by the mining industry. In roads, the situation is even harder, with lack of resources for maintenance. Even so, Brazil offers natural conditions for fluvial transport which have to be better used. The evaluation is of the representative of the Transport Ministry, Edison Vianna Júnior. He argues that, in spite of the increase in traffic during harvest, there is no collapse in Brazilian ports. “The losses in soybeans from loading on to the truck until the translocation over to the storage bins is not more than 1% in Brazils largest ports, which is the port of Santos”, clarifies Vianna.
According to the advisor of Bolsa de Mercadorias e Futuros (BM&F), Roberto Machado, the reduction in availability of resources is a reality. He says that, in the 1980’s, 20 billion dollars were invested in Brazilian harvesting, which topped 50 million tons; today, 6 billion dollars are invested, to support a harvest of 100 million tons. “The creation of commodity bonds avoids the circulation of products, reducing losses until the moment of commercialization. Negotiation has been limited to paperwork”, defends Machado.

SERVICE
9th International Working Conference on Stored Product Protection
Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil, 15th to 18th October 2006

REGISTRATIONS
Website http://www.embrapa.br/9thIWCSPP

ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
The conference promoters in Brazil are the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply (MAPA), the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) and the National Food Supply Company (CONAB). The Brazilian Post-Harvest Association (ABRAPOS) holds it, with support from several research institutions, universities, consultants, equipment and pesticide industries, rural producers and storage personnel.

EVENT’S PRESS ADVERTISE
September 2006
Joseani M. Antunes – Embrapa Trigo
+55 54 3316 5860 joseani@cnpt.embrapa.br
Jonas Cavalcanti – CONAB
+55 61 3312-6338 jonas.cavalcanti@conab.gov.br