27 | MAR . 2024

Releases

Expoagro Afubra hosts forum on diversification focused on forest production

II Rio Pardo Valley Regional Forum on Forests brought together specialists from the Federal University of Santa Maria and from SindiTabaco to debate on the challenges faced by the small-scale farmers regarding energy self-sufficiency, as well as turning forest production into a source of income. March 2024 – Intended to be an environment of exchanges and opportunities  that potentiate diversification initiatives, the II Rio Pardo Valley Regional Forum on Forests  was held this Friday, March 22, during the program of Expoagro AFubra 2024, in Rio Pardo (RS). With the subject matter “Integrate, strengthen and promote the development of the forest supply chain”, the event relied on the participation of SindiTabaco technical advisor Fernanda Viana Bender. She presented a list of the main initiatives carried out by the tobacco sector on behalf of the preservation of native forests and energy self-sufficiency over the past decades, providing specific details on the program Initiatives towards Forest Sustainability in Tobacco Farming, held since 2019, in partnership with the Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM). The aim of the program consists in cultivating energy trees to meet the needs of the tobacco farmers, whilst preserving native forests. Through 22 demonstration units established in Rio Grande do Sul, the UFSM research team, coordinated by PhD holder Jorge Antônio de Farias, from the UFSM, are testing the management of fast growing trees, and the results are disclosed in informative videos that contribute towards maximizing the results. All videos produced so far can be accessed at youtube.com.br/sinditabaco. According to Fernanda Bender, from SindiTabaco, the industries are making strides in terms of forest production knowledge. “Besides the farmers, the agriculture extension agents of the companies associated with the SindiTabaco equally take advantage of the program’s knowledge on the subject matter, whether through publicity materials or through technical visits to our demonstration units. Of course, there are still things we have to learn in the area and this is the top objective of the program. We need to develop a way of thinking that forest production is a tobacco farmer’s business. Without wood, there is no tobacco curing. However, beyond the demand by the sector, farmers could also get organized to diversify with forest production, thus earning extra income”, he argued.  Professor Dr. Jorge Farias, coordinator of the program at the UFSM, contextualized the demand of the wood industry. According to him, there are some remarkable bottlenecks when it comes to introducing family farming into the wood market. “As the farmers possess small farms, land availability is one of the problems that make it difficult to plant trees, and the same holds true for the transport logistics of the production. At the same time, we witness a sector extremely concerned with the supply of wood of legal origin, while the farmers strongly demand wood. The solution goes through the creation of cooperatives or associations capable of articulating this market, and the tobacco sector could be a protagonist in this process. The forest component should become an integral part when it comes to establishing a rural property, as an alternative source of income”, Dr. Farias commented. Other forum participants include Rômulo Trevisan, engineer and PhD holder professor at the UFSM; and Vitorio Slompo, coordinator of RS Dexco Forestry Operations, on energy efficiency of the different tree species and the operation of the wood market.

12 | DEC . 2023

Releases

New cargo theft tactics is the topic addressed at a meeting of heads of security agencies

December 2023 – The security committee of the Interstate Tobacco Industry Union (SindiTabaco) had a meeting with representatives of the public security agency of Santa Cruz do Sul (RS), on Tuesday, December 12. For five years now, the sector has kept an eye on transportation safety and on the prevention of losses caused by cargo thefts, through the adoption of preventive measures. In 2019, the sector recorded 26 occurrences in the entire South Brazil Region, in 2022, there were only 8 occurrences, and only one of these occurrences took place in Rio Grande do Sul. In 2023, there were six occurrences: four thefts of raw tobacco cargoes and two of processed tobacco (in containers) destined for export. SindiTabaco president Iro Schünke commented on the good results achieved in the past growing seasons with the decrease in cargo thefts, in particular, thefts of tobacco transported from farm gate to processing companies, or to the point of purchase. “We keep the transporters aware, insisting on the necessary precautions, but this new theft tactic focused on processed tobacco cargoes is cause for concern, considering that intense movement of containers is expected over the next months”, he argued. The theft of two containers of processed tobacco heading for the port of Rio Grande took place in similar way and in the same region, along the BR 471 road between Pântano Grande and the BR 392 road, a well-known export corridor of the sector, but these are remote and dead zone places where there are no mobile phone signals. The prevention of new occurrences was the main target of the meeting between the representatives of the associate companies and Major Marcos Migotto Carneiro, Commander in Chief of the Regional Military Police; Regional Police Chief Officer Luciano Fernandes Menezes; and lieutenant Marcio Fontoura, from the Highway Police Department. The scheduled actions include patrols on specific stretches of the road, in particular, specific stretches when shipping containers are intensively transported, limitation periods for road traffic hours, pre-defined stops, organizing truck convoys or use alternative routes, DAER officials should be contacted  with an eye on the best routes to follow. According to chief police officer Menezes, investigation has progressed considerably, but in the meantime, we have to follow the security policy and procedure manual. “We already have a perception of authorship and they are no beginners”, the police officer says. The exporting companies, along with the transporters, are evaluating operational improvements for reducing the time it takes for the containers to arrive at the port, so as to avoid, for example, evening transportation. “If evening transportation is absolutely necessary, the companies can previously contact the security organs asking for an escort to accompany the truck”, police officer Menezes reinforced. The representatives of the Military Brigade insisted that speedy exchange of information and, if possible, prior to the departure of the truck, could be decisive for favorable results, especially in the so-called dead zones, with no cellphone coverage. More guidelines on the management of transport risks can be accessed at a folder devised by the SindiTabaco Security Committee, available site www.sinditabaco.com.br. Photos: Divulgação   Contact with press MSL Andreoli Eliana Stülp Kroth – eliana.stulp@mslgroup.com – (51) 3713-1777 / (51) 99667-7405 Giovana Reis - giovavana.reis@mslgroup.com – (11) 99178-3414 Thais Thomaz – thais.thomaz@mslgroup.com – (11) 98904-1366 www.mslgroupandreoli.com.br

26 | OCT . 2023

Releases

CONICQ is questioned at a round table at the House of Representatives

October 2023 – The National Commission on the Implementation of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (CONIQ)  was the target of questionings at a round table promoted by the House of Representatives, in Brasília. With the participation of deputies, entities linked to the tobacco supply chain, entrepreneurial leaderships and representatives of the federal government, the meeting was held in hybrid format, on Thursday October 26. The criticisms directed at the Commission, led by Vera Luiza da Costa e Silva, include failure to disclose the calendar of the meetings and the documents under debate; the fact that the farmers, the ones that are most affected, are not allowed to attend the meetings; failure in giving publicity to the minutes and deliberations. From November 20 – 25, Brazil will attend the 10th Conference of the parties of the FCTC, to be held in Panamá. Questioned about the next meetings and the transparency to CONICQ’s deliberations, which could affect thousands of tobacco growing families in Brazil,  Vera only commented that the positions of the Brazilian delegation are discussed internally and are of restricted character. Still according to her, Brazilian government stances and negotiations remain restricted until fully negotiated. “CONICQ has no deliberative character, nothing is decided without the approval of the President of the Country”, she declared. According to her, the production of tobacco will not be addressed at COP 10 and this question is not a part of the treaty. “There is no mention of any action that could have direct impacts on the supply chain”. At the same time, she affirms that global demand for tobacco is gradually dropping. We are here to make this transition to happen in the least painful way, in the medium and long run”, she added. About the chances to attend the Conference, Vera was emphatic. “We have had a very strict policy in denying access to the cops to people who are not credentialed and people who have a conflict of interest. The secretariat, based  at the WHO headquarters, has the credentials to deny the participation, if some kind of relationship with the industry is at stake”, she explained.  In past editions, there were forced evictions of parliament members, representatives of entities linked to the tobacco farmers and even journalists that covered the event. Iro Schünke, president of the Interstate Tobacco Industry Union (SindiTabaco), backed up the other representatives in their request for more transparency. “Today were told here that there are fakenews circulating about the COP 10, that there has never been any attempt to endanger the production of tobacco, but we know that this is not true. The truth has to come out: there is no other dictatorship in the world like the Framework Convention. We see a methodical battle against the production of tobacco, it suffices to recall what the antismoking activists said in May, at a campaign open to the entire Brazilian population, embarrassing farmers and warning them to stop producing tobacco and start growing food crops. They accuse the sector of deforestation, but it is the segment that has the biggest forest areas; they maintain that the tobacco farmers are going through a situation of vulnerability, but  the research conducted by CEPA/UFRGS effectively attested  the opposite; they say that demand for the product is declining, but the historical average attests to stable tobacco production and exports in Brazil. Those who spread such lies, surely do not know the sector”, the chief executive officer commented in his participation. BRAZILIAN STANCE – Ricardo Pires, deputy chief at the Global Health Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), commented that it is a temporary agenda and will be approved by the Parties on the first day of the Conference. About the Brazilian position, he commented that it is not the Itamaraty that defines the position of Brazil in this case and that the CONICQ, for the fact that it relies on inter-ministerial support and there is a prediction based on a decree, is the forum for it. He also stressed that, should there be any interference in the production of tobacco, the Brazilian delegation, representing Brazil at COP10, is going to respect the interpretative Declaration signed when the FCTC was ratified and sets forth the protection of tobacco farming in the Country. Nonetheless, what is a cause for concern for the leaderships of the sector is the fact that in other COPs the Brazilian delegation was in favor of restrictive measures to the tobacco supply chain, which did not come to fruition due to political pressure. Issues that have already been on the agenda include, for example, restrictions that affected production, the organization of representative entities of the sector, technical assistance and credit lines for family farmers and the planted area. TO KNOW – Brazil has been the top tobacco exporter for 30 years now. In the past season, according to data from the Tobacco Growers' Association of Brazil (Afubra), out of the 1,191 municipalities in the South Region of Brazil, 490 produced tobacco. The total number of families involved with the crop amounts to 125 thousand, with a gross income estimated at nearly R$ 11 billion. In terms of comparison, the performance of tobacco, in financial terms, is equivalent to 6.37 hectares of soybean and 7.66 hectares of corn. Know more at: www.sinditabaco.com.br Watch the broadcast   PhotosDivulgação   Contact with press  MSL Andreoli Eliana Stülp Kroth – eliana.stulp@mslgroup.com – (51) 3713-1777 / (51) 99667-7405 Giovana Reis - giovavana.reis@mslgroup.com – (11) 99178-3414 Thais Thomaz – thais.thomaz@mslgroup.com – (11) 98904-1366 www.mslgroupandreoli.com.br

19 | OCT . 2023

Releases

Monthly per capita income of the tobacco farmers is twice as much as the average in Brazil

October 2023 – The Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, through its Study and Administration Research Center (CEPA/UFRGS) published the report on the results of the second edition of the research ‘Socio-Economic Profile of the Tobacco Farmers in the South Region of Brazil’. Just like the first edition, conducted in 2016, the study was implemented at the request of the Interstate Tobacco Industry Union (SindiTabaco) and conducted from June 30 to July 20, 2023, and covered 37 municipalities where tobacco is produced in the South Region of Brazil. Coordinated by Prof. Dr. Luiz Antonio Slongo, the research relied on support from Prof. Dr. Rafael Laitano Lionello (ESPM/SP) and doctorate candidates Lucas Dorneles Britto (PPGA/UFRGS) and Nathalia Soares Brum de Mello (PPGA/UFRGS), along with university technicians. Data collection was based on personal interviews, held at the farm households. The population chosen for this study consisted of tobacco farmers in the South Region and, for the purpose of sampling, a total of 1,145 cases were taken into consideration, with a maximum sampling error of 2.9%. The research results point to good socioeconomic conditions of the tobacco farmers in the South Region of Brazil. “They clearly have access to essential household items, as well as items related to hygiene and health products. Such conditions are made easier by a good family and per capita income level, which exceeds by far the national averages, along with access to information and modern devices. What the research also ascertains is the fact that the tobacco farmers are very satisfied with their status as farmers and, in particular, proud to be tobacco farmers. This ascertainment is ratified by their self-evaluation of their living standards”. Slongo concludes. According to SindiTabaco president Iro Schünke, the results reaffirm the economic and social importance of tobacco in the rural setting. “At several moments we have heard that the tobacco farmers endure vulnerability conditions, but the research destroys this tale. Just like in 2016, the results come as no surprise to those who know the tobacco sector, but they could come as a surprise to those who still believe in information based on ideology”, Schünke declares. Access the full research FAMILY INCOME

  • Taking into consideration all income sources, the tobacco farmers in the South Region of Brazil get and average monthly income of R$ 11,755.30;
  • The average per capita income of the tobacco farmers in the South Region amounts to R$ 3,540.75, while per capita income in Brazil is R$ 1,625 (IBGE, 2022);
  • 73% of the tobacco farmers have other income sources, besides the one from tobacco. This extra income comes from the cultivation of other agricultural crops and from such income sources as retirement pay, permanent or seasonal jobs, self-employed jobs, rent, land lease or financial investment income.
SOCIOECONOMIC LEVEL OF THE TOBACCO FARMERS
  • The tobacco farmers in the South Region of Brazil, in particular, fall into the category of classes “A”, “B1” and “B2”;
  • The percentage of tobacco farmers in classes “A” is 6.7%, which is equivalent to more than twice as much as the situation in general terms in Brazil. Only 2.9 percent of the Brazilian population fit into this social stratum;
  • Similar behavior is ascertained in stratum “B1”. While in Brazil the number of people who fall into this stratum is 5.1%, among the tobacco farmers this stratum amounts to 6.1%;
  • A great number of the tobacco farmers fit into class “B2”, with 67.2%. This percentage corresponds to more than four times of what is ascertained in national terms, where, only 16.7% fit into this stratum;
  • The superior social pattern of the tobacco farmers is also ratified by an analysis of the other extreme end of the scale, that is to say, the one that corresponds to the lowest levels. While in Brazil classes “C1”, “C2”, “C3” and “D”, comprise nearly 76% of the population, among the tobacco farmers, these classes correspond only to 19.6%.
CONNECTED – The research attested that the farmers are getting increasingly connected. In 2016, for example, less than half of the farmers had access to the internet. It 2023 this reality was drastically altered: nearly 94% have access to the internet, more than 92% in their own household. As far as social networks go, the participation of the farmers is already very expressive. WhatsApp and Facebook are the two most used social networks by the tobacco farmers in the South Regions, with 98.9% and 84.6%, respectively. On the other hand,  the Instagram and Youtube are used by 37.8% and 24.1% of the farmers. Twitter (1.7%) LinkedIn (0.8%) are used less than all the others. TOBACCO FARMER HOUSEHOLD
  • Nearly 73% of the tobacco farmers live in masonry houses predominant in civil construction (65% in 2016);
  • Nearly 72% have three or more bedrooms per household;
  • All households have, at least, one bathroom or toilet room, but nearly 36.4% have more than one;
  • Nearly 95% have a septic tank for sewage treatment;
  • 29% have artesian water;
  • 97.1% have running water;
  • Almost all households have access to electrical energy, via national power grid (98.6%);
  • 13.5% have access to other sources. Of those who use other sources, 12.3% use solar energy;
  • Practically 100% have heated water (99.6%), at least for shower and bath, and to this end, they use electric energy, permanently.
ASSET OWNERSHIP
  • 100% of the tobacco farmers have an automobile or a van (89% in 2016) and 62.7% have a motorbike (61% in the previous survey);
  • 13.7% of the tobacco farmers have a second property, besides the home where they live (10% in 2016);
  • More than 97% of the households have a washing machine and 65% of them equally have a tumble dryer;
  • Households equipped with air-conditioning went up 61% since the first survey, in 2016. Nowadays 33.4% have air-conditioning and 80.7% have ventilators;
  • 57.2% of the households have a vacuum cleaner;
  • 88.6% have an electric oven and 67.2% have a microwave oven;
  • 80.9% of the farmers own a tractor and 13.4% a micro tractor;
  • Practically 100% have a color television, 90.5% of them flat screen TVs;
  • 100% own, at least, one cellphone, 85.1% of the smartphone type;
  • 36% have a computer.
EDUCATIONAL LEVEL OF THE TOBACCO FARMERS
  • Nearly 60% of the householders have more than 8 years of schooling, meaning they have competed their elementary education, or more; among them, 32.2% have more than 11 years of schooling, corresponding to high school, and some have taken college courses, either completed or still underway;
  • 95.6% of them have already attended courses on safe pesticide handling practices;
  • 50.2% have already attended correct soil management courses;
  • 46.4% have already attended courses on rural property organization or management;
  • 98% consider themselves properly informed about safe tobacco harvesting procedures;
  • 96% of the farmers rely on technical assistance from the companies.
MUNICIPALITIES INCLUDED IN THE INTERVIEWS Rio Grande do Sul: Arroio do Tigre, Boqueirão do Leão, Caiçara, Camaquã, Canguçu, Chuvisca, Crissiumal, Ibarama, Mata, Santa Cruz do Sul, São Francisco de Assis, São Lourenço do Sul, Vale do Sol and Venâncio Aires. Santa Catarina: Canoinhas, Içara, Iporã do Oeste, Itaiópolis, Ituporanga, Orleans, Palmitos, Papanduva, Petrolândia, Riqueza, São João do Sul and Vidal Ramos. Paraná: Agudos do Sul, Ipiranga, Irati, Piên, Prudentópolis, Quitandinha, Rio Azul, Rio Negro, São João do Triunfo, São Miguel do Iguaçú and Três Barras do Paraná.

Contato com a imprensa 

MSL Andreoli

Eliana Stülp Kroth – eliana.stulp@mslgroup.com – (51) 3713-1777 / (51) 99667-7405

Giovana Reis - giovavana.reis@mslgroup.com – (11) 99178-3414

Thais Thomaz – thais.thomaz@mslgroup.com – (11) 98904-1366

www.mslgroupandreoli.com.br

28 | SEP . 2023

Releases

Meeting formalizes the closure of the pre-shipment inspection procedure of Brazilian tobacco

September 2023 – The Interstate Tobacco Industry Union (SindiTabaco), on Thursday September 28, hosted a meeting to formalize the closure of the pre-shipment inspection procedure of Brazilian tobacco, 2022/23 crop year, a requirement by the Brazil-China bilateral trade protocol. The meeting was held in hybrid format, virtually attended by the technicians from The General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC). The meeting was held at the Head Office of the Union in Santa Cruz do Sul (RS), and was attended by the following people: Head of the Special Export Programs Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply (Mapa), Caio César Simão; superintendent of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply in Rio Grande do Sul, José Cleber de Souza; SindiTabaco president Iro Schünke; Head of Mapa’s Agro-Defense Division in Rio Grande do Sul, Jairo Carbonari; Head of Mapa’s RS Plant Surveillance Inspection Division, Roque Danieli; president of China Tabaco Internacional do Brasil (CTIB), Zhou Xinghua; technician responsible for the Central Analytical Laboratory of the University of Santa Cruz do Sul (UNISC), Adriana Dupont Schneider; as well as representatives from companies that supply tobacco to China. SindiTabaco president Iro Schünke greeted the attendees to the meeting and reinforced the importance of China for the Brazilian tobacco sector. “China has been one of our largest importers for years now.  Brazil has exported 500 thousand metric tons of tobacco, on average, per year, and China has always been one of the main destinations. This is significantly due to the work carried out by the entities attending this meeting and, in particular, the participation of the MAPA, always very efficient and effective. We are thankful to the CTIB for intermediating this important work, as well as to the UNISC,  and, in particular, to all GACC representatives. This is the first time we meet, though online, to exchange this kind of information. SindiTabaco acts as a facilitator in the intermediation between the companies and these entities, and we are happy to come to the end of one more pre-inspection with good results. The expectation is for us to make progress in our businesses with China”, Schünke stressed. “China is one our largest trading partners. In 2022, transactions amounted to upwards of US$ 150 billion. In the tobacco sector, shipments to China started in 2005. From 2008 onwards, monitoring procedures started and in 2010 we formalized the protocol that has been strengthening the tobacco trade between the two countries, with the involvement of the public and private sectors with the aim to send to that country a product of phytosanitary quality. The sector sets an example towards conducting this program and has always managed to demonstrate the traceability of the product and the process. From field to the tobacco box that is exported, it is possible to trace back the product to its origin in case a non-conformity is detected, something that has never happened over all these years of the protocol”, commented Caio César Simão, Head of the Special Exports Program Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, in Brasília. José Cleber de Souza, superintendent at MAPA RS, reinforced the importance of keeping a close watch on the market. “China is a relevant partner, just like tobacco, a product that occupies a prominent position in the scenario of Rio Grande do Sul. The superintendence is always ready to provide all necessary support to the maintenance and expansion of the markets. My participation consists in representing this commitment, which is also shared by minister Carlos Fávaro and by the government, thus acknowledging this really relevant activity”, he commented. Similar to what has happened over the past years, in an agreement with the GACC, the  MAPA became responsible for collecting samples of processed tobacco and send them to the Analytical Center of the University of Santa Cruz do Sul (UNISC) for laboratory tests that attest to the phytosanitary status of the product prior to shipment. Roque Danieli, tax auditor and Head of Inputs and Plant Health Inspection Services, a division of the MAPA in RS, commented on the pre-inspection steps. “During these three weeks, all GACC representatives, in virtual format, had a chance to keep a close watch on the implementation of the protocol. We hope that the presentation of the works will keep you satisfied and we thank the companies for their efforts towards the monitoring procedures, thus ensuring a product free of all pests set forth in the protocol. We also evaluated the use of pesticides and best agricultural practices, and we did not detect any non-conformity in the inspections carried out at field level, a direct result from the Integrated Production System and constant efforts in keeping all company technicians updated. We hope for the approval of these six last batches, and next week we will forward the final report. We recommend the continuity of this joint work in order to keep this important trading partnership”, Danieli commented. Preliminary report sounds positive  The technician responsible for the Laboratory of UNISC’s Anaytical Center, professor Adriana Dupont Schneider, gave details about the analyses carried out to date. “This year we will have a total of 53 batches analyzed, 47 of them already approved and the other six will be evaluated after the meeting. The samples come from eight companies and all the results were negative relative to the pests that are a part of the agreement between China and Brazil”, she declared. According to her, the aim consisted in analyzing and attesting to the phytosanitary status of the tobacco with regard to the nine pests set forth in the protocol: six insects [of which four are strains of beetles, and two, flea beetle strains], two types of sorghum [weeds] and, finally, blue mold. “In all, it took 17 days of investigation and each sample was thoroughly analyzed, thus generating a trial report. As to blue mold, it was particularly focused on, seeing that it is the pathogen that is the biggest concern of the Chinese government. All samples analyzed up to now had negative results. These results attest to and ensure the phytosanity quality of the Brazilian tobacco to be exported to China. I have followed this monitoring service for years and we have evolved a lot in this partnership, which reflects on the confidence between the two countries and consequent increase in the volume shipped to that country”, she stressed in her evaluation. The GACC representative commented that the final result of the pre-inspection will depend on the conclusion of the analysis of the last samples. On his part, the president of the CTIB, Zhou Xinghua, expressed confidence in the results and is eager to see the works concluded in the shortest time possible. “We started this work in early September and concluded it today, with the final inspection. We thank all persons involved in this work and we hope it will be possible to conclude the report as soon as possible, thus making it possible to start the shipments”, Xinghua concluded. Photo: Divulgação

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MSL Andreoli

Eliana Stülp Kroth – eliana.stulp@mslgroup.com – (51) 3713-1777 / (51) 99667-7405

Giovana Reis - giovavana.reis@mslgroup.com – (11) 99178-3414

Thais Thomaz – thais.thomaz@mslgroup.com – (11) 98904-1366

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30 | AUG . 2023

Releases

‘Crop Field in Discussion’ presents the defense of the tobacco sector to COP 10

August 2023 – With the theme tobacco is agro: the expectation for COP 10, the Interstate Tobacco Industry Union (SindiTabaco), attended this Wednesday, August 30, the session ‘Crop Field in Discussion’, at RBS TV House, during the program of the 46th Expointer, in Esteio (RS). The event was broadcast live through channel GZH, on Youtube and was mediated by journalist Gisele Loeblein. She started the debate presenting the numbers of the tobacco crop in Rio Grande do Sul, and was followed by the participation of the president of the Tobacco Growers' Association of Brazil (Afubra), Marcilio Drescher. “There are nearly 600 thousand people who derive their livelihood directly from tobacco. On average, the income from tobacco corresponds to 51%, and is complemented by crop diversification. The rural holdings consist of 105 hectares, on average. On these small stretches of land, the farmers support their families and normally devote only 3.29 hectares to tobacco. Small areas with tobacco provide for excellent income, along with diversification. In the past growing season, gross income earned by the farmers amounted to R$ 88 thousand per capita and per family, on average, not to mention the income derived from diversification”, he stressed. Diversification is one of the themes that was widely discussed by the countries that signed the treaty of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), of the World Health Organization (WHO). But how can we debate on farmers’ diversification initiatives without involving the main players of this question? The lack of transparency and the refusal in including the supply chain in the debates was one of the focal points  in the debate about the participation of Brazil, in the month of November, in the 10th Conference of the Parties (COP 10) of the FCTC. Iro Schünke, president of the Interstate Tobacco Industry Union (SindiTabaco) spoke about the concerns of the sector relative to the event. In his view, the absence of representatives of the supply chain in the debates is a very emblematic symbol. “It is highly regrettable that not even the representatives of the supply chain are allowed to attend the sessions. The lack of transparency and the total absence of dialogue between the parties make events unilateral and, therefore, totally dictatorial”, Schünke comments. The president of the SindiTabaco also stressed that the countries are self-sufficient to adopt the recommendations coming from any COP. “Brazil, however, has over the past years shown to be a protagonist in adopting these measures, which is paradoxical considering that we have been the top global leaf exporter over the past 30 years, and the second-largest producer of tobacco, coming only after China”, he insisted. Ernani Polo, secretary of Economic Development and State Government representative commented: “Tobacco has surely contributed a lot towards the municipalities where it is produced, as well as to the trade balance of the State, due to the volumes annually exported. There is need for the deputies and representations to show their stances, and the government of Rio Grande do Sul will be with them and defend them, showing solidarity with the farmers who cultivate a quality crop, based on technology, sustainability and diversification. We know that a lot of work is carried out by the industries of the sector with the aim to diversify, but even so, it is tobacco that keeps the farmers in the countryside”, Polo emphasized. Other participants of the event include the president of the Association of Tobacco Growing Municipalities (AmproTabaco), Vinicius Pegoraro; the execuive manager of the Brazilian Tobacco Industry Association (Abifumo), Giuseppe Lobo; and the president of the Tobacco Industry Workers’ Association (Fentifumo) and the president of the Tobacco and Foodstuffs Industry Workers Union of Santa Cruz do Sul and Region (STIFA), Gualter Batista Júnior. Federal deputies Alceu Moreira, Heitor Schuch and Marcelo Moraes, along with state deputies Airton Artus, Edivilson Brum, Elton Weber, Kelly Moraes and Marcus Vinicius brought their contributions and concerns to the debate. And the same holds true for senator Luiz Carlos Heinze, from Rio Grande do Sul and federal deputies Pedro Lupion (PR) and Rafael Pezenti (SC), who participated with statements through video conferencing. TOBACCO IN RIO GRANDE DO SUL – Tobacco is produced in 192 municipalities across Rio Grande do Sul. In the past growing season, approximately 65 thousand farmers produced around 300 thousand tons, which correspond to half of what is produced in the entire Country. In the countryside, the production involves around 290 thousand people. In terms of revenue, tobacco generated R$ 5 billion to the farmers in Rio Grande do Sul, besides 25 thousand jobs generated by the industry in the State. Approximately 80% of leaf exports from the South Region of Brazil are through the Port of Rio Grande, bringing in revenue of US$ 2 billion a year.

30 | AUG . 2023

Releases

ALRS Subcommittee is making arrangements for the defense of the tobacco sector

August 2023 – the 46th Expointer, in the city of Esteio, was the venue chosen for the official delivery of the Final Report made by the Subcommittee for the Defense of the Tobacco Sector and for monitoring COP 10, linked to the Committee of Agriculture, Livestock, Fishery and Cooperativism of the Rio Grande do Sul State Assembly (ALRS), this Tuesday, August 29. Representatives of the supply chain, authorities, political and entrepreneurial leaderships followed closely the moment when the president of the subcommittee, state deputy Marcus Vinicius, handed over the document to the president of the Committee of Agriculture, Livestock, Fishery and Cooperativism, deputy Luciano Silveira. The document is the result of a work that lasted 90 days and consisted in collecting information on the sector, coming from public hearings promoted by the Subcommittee  in six municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul – Santa Cruz do Sul, Camaquã, Venâncio Aires, Rio Pardo, Candelária and Arroio do Tigre. The report will be submitted to the approval by the Agriculture Committee, by September 12. Arrangements suggested by the document:  1 – Creation of a working group with representatives of farmers, companies, state and municipal governments, with an eye on the effective participation in coming up with the Brazilian stance at COP-10; 2 – Assurance that governments, private and public organs comply with the interpretative declaration of the Framework Convention’s agreement in refraining from jeopardizing free trade and the supply chain; 3 – Refusal of adopting harmful stances or forbidden to farmers and to illicit trade in tobacco products by government organs; 4 – Avoid the implementation of new taxes that increase the burden on the supply chain, during debates on tax reform questions; 5 – Strict implementation of inspection actions and fight against contraband, embezzlement, piracy and counterfeit products of the tobacco sector; 6 – Regulated adoption of new technologies, like heated tobacco and electronic cigarettes containing tobacco nicotine, in order to preserve the supply chain; 7 – Removal of government campaigns that contain false allegations on environmental crimes and improper use of land by tobacco farming activities; 8 – Acknowledgement of the economic and social importance of tobacco by the state parliament through the presentation of Draft Legislation; 9 – Mobilization and participation of parliament and state agents in activities of COP 10 through official missions. “We refuse to admit that in 2023 deputies are barred from entering the door of an event funded by public money, as occurred in other years. And this is our message to the federal government that here in Rio Grande do Sul we do not accept restrictions to the production of tobacco”, deputy Marcus Vinícius emphasized at the meeting. The president of the Interstate Tobacco Industry Union (SindiTabaco), Iro Schünke, attended the event and is optimistic about the demonstration of support for defending the continuity of the production and export of tobacco. In Schünke’s view, the document will be an important tool for the defense of the supply chain. “This is a very positive moment, because it is a democratic moment. All participants had a chance to express their views, all the productive links of the supply chain were listened to, as well as all political parties were given a chance to express their opinions. This walk as an example of democracy and is exactly the opposite of what we have witnessed at all COPs, which I consider to be the worst dictatorship on earth, where our business is debated and we are not allowed to take part”, the official said. TOBACCO IS AGRO – According to a survey conducted by the Tobacco Growers' Association of Brazil (Afubra), the 2022/2023 tobacco crop exceeded 605 thousand tons and the commercialization of the product brought in revenue of nearly R$ 11 billion to the 125 thousand tobacco farmers in the South Region of Brazil. Equally, according to Afubra, the average income from a hectare of tobacco is equivalent to the income derived from 6.19 hectares of soybean or 7.55 hectares of corn. ABOUT COP 10 – The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) was the first health-related treaty in the history of the World Health Organization (WHO). In November, Brazil will attend the 10th Conference of the Parties (COP 10), of FCTC, which will be held in Panamá this year.

25 | AUG . 2023

Releases

Rio Grande do Sul State Assembly ends series of events focused on tobacco

August 2023 – The Subcommittee on the Defense of the Tobacco Supply chain, linked to the Rio Grande do Sul State Assembly’s  Agricultural, Livestock, Fishery and Cooperativism Committee (ALRS, in the Portuguese acronym), on 25 August, promoted the two final meetings held in two tobacco growing municipalities in the State of Rio Grande do Sul: Venâncio Aires and Arroio do Tigre. The event was chaired by state deputy Marcus Vinícius, coordinator of the Subcommittee, and attracted approximately 150 people to the City Council, including representatives of the supply chain, authorities, political and entrepreneurial leaderships. The aim of the initiative consisted in collecting information in order to formulate and forward the stance of the ALRS regarding the provisions of the 10th Conference of the Parties (COP 10), organized by the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), scheduled for November, in Panamá. In all, six municipalities played host to the meetings: Santa Cruz do Sul, Camaquã, Venâncio Aires, Rio Pardo, Candelária and Arroio do Tigre. According to the deputy, based on the events, a final report will specify the difficulties and concerns relative to possible penalties that may have an impact on the tobacco supply chain. “Contrary to other developed countries, as is the case of the United States, Brazil gave in to political correctness upon signing the Framework Convention, a fact that, in my opinion, was a mistake. From there to here, several restrictions were imposed on the sector and we are going to take this document to all major representatives of the federal government who are part of this initiative, so that no one can excuse themselves from failing to defend the sector, making it possible for us to promote a respectful debate, but equally more responsible about the entire supply chain”, deputy Marcus Vinícius stresses. Interstate Tobacco Industry Union (SindiTabaco) president Iro Schünke attended the public hearing held in Venâncio Aires. The chief executive will also follow closely the presentation of the final report on Tuesday, August 29, at 4 p.m., at the Assis Brazil Exhibition Park, during the 46th Expointer. In Schünke’s view, the document represents a relevant tool on behalf of the supply chain. “The COP is the worst dictatorship that exists, where our business is debated and we are not allowed to take part. Brazil, which should be  the protagonist of the cause that comprises the production and export of tobacco, is walking in the opposite direction, adhering more quickly than other countries, where tobacco is neither grown nor exported, to the recommendations issued by the Conference of the Parties”, he stressed. MAGNITUDE OF TOBACCO – The treasurer of the Tobacco Growers' Association of Brazil (Afubra), Fabricio Murini, presented the results of the recent tobacco crop in the Region of South Brazil. The total crop of the 2022/2023 growing season amounted to 605,703 tons and the income earned by the farmers reached nearly R$ 11 billion. The numbers attest to the magnitude of the tobacco crop in South Brazil. In Venâncio Aires, for example,  the 3,530 tobacco farmers earned R$ 328 million, revenue that will drive the economy of the municipality, positively affecting several sectors of the economy”, Murini emphasized in his presentation. He also cited, the sake of comparison, what tobacco represents for family farmers. According to data released by Afubra, average income from one hectare of tobacco is equivalent to 6.19 hectares of soybean and 7.55 hectares of corn. According to the mayor of Venâncio Aires, Jarbas da Rosa, the development of the municipality relies on the pillars of the tobacco supply chain. “Although investing strongly in rural and industrial diversification, tobacco still represents more than half of the economy of the municipality. There are lives transformed by tobacco, with income, health, education and, in November, we will fight on behalf of this important sector”, the mayor said. Photos: Divulgação Contact with press  MSL Andreoli  Eliana Stülp Kroth – eliana.stulp@mslgroup.com – (51) 3713-1777 / (51) 99667-7405 Giovana Reis - giovavana.reis@mslgroup.com – (11) 99178-3414 Thais Thomaz – thais.thomaz@mslgroup.com – (11) 98904-1366 www.mslgroupandreoli.com.br