The participation of Brazilian cooperatives at COP30, last Wednesday (19), highlighted the strength of the model and its capacity to integrate innovation, inclusion and sustainability to respond to the country's biggest climate, food and energy challenges. Panels in the Green Zone and Agri Zone brought together cooperative leaders, researchers, technicians and producers to present concrete experiences that show how collective action is already transforming territories.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\nPhoto: Shutterstock<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
In all the debates, the central message was unanimous: cooperatives don't wait, they deliver measurable results in reducing emissions, using natural resources efficiently, and generating income and opportunities, positioning themselves as a key element for a just, inclusive, and territorially based climate transition.<\/p>\n
Clean energy, circular economy and sustainable logistics \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n At the Coop Pavilion, the panel "Just Energy Transition: Cooperating to Transform," moderated by Jo\u00e3o Penna, coordinator of International Relations at the OCB System, brought together three experiences that demonstrate how cooperativism has been crucial in accelerating the energy transition in Brazil and mitigating environmental liabilities efficiently.<\/p>\n Alexandre Gatti Lages, superintendent of the Ocemg System, drew attention to the advancement of renewable energies within the movement. He recalled that, according to data from the Brazilian Cooperative Yearbook, approximately 201% of Brazilian cooperatives already produce their own energy, and Minas Gerais has even greater potential. Therefore, in 2020, Ocemg created the Minascoop Energia Project, structured around ESG pillars. "Minascoop was born with this purpose of doing a different kind of work, donating energy to entities in need," he stated.<\/p>\n The initiative reduces energy costs (Economic), promotes clean photovoltaic generation (Environmental), and encourages the donation of part of the energy.<\/p>\n Photo: Shutterstock<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Energy produced for philanthropic institutions (Social). "Today, there are already 52 participating cooperatives, with 138 plants installed in 88 municipalities, which together produce 14 MW," he added.<\/p>\n Juliano Millnitz, CEO of Primato, a cooperative in Paran\u00e1 that serves more than 11,000 members and is the largest pork producer in Brazil, presented the case study "Green Pig: Clean Energy from Field to Transportation." The program has been observed by researchers and authorities for transforming a huge environmental liability into clean fuel.<\/p>\n The cooperative produces 9.5 million liters of swine manure daily and has implemented a system that centralizes 630,000 liters\/day to produce biomethane. In the process, the solid material is converted into fertilizer, while the liquid generates biogas and biomethane. The plant is self-sufficient in energy, and the focus now is on sustainable mobility. \u201cToday we already operate six trucks fully powered by biomethane, and the goal is for the entire swine chain to be transported with clean fuel, which will represent a saving of 447 tons of diesel oil per year, equivalent to R$ 920,000 annually,\u201d explained Nunes.<\/p>\n The third case study was presented by Evaldo Matos, director of Coopmetro, who addressed one of Brazil's biggest challenges: the dependence on road transport, responsible for 70% of national transport. The cooperative leads the Fleet Renewal Program (Pave), which democratizes access to new trucks for small transporters, connecting cooperative members, credit unions, and manufacturers.<\/p>\n Photo: Shutterstock<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The environmental impacts are significant: 14% less CO\u2082, 75% less nitrogen oxides, and 12% more autonomy. In the social field, the program reaches 13,500 beneficiaries, strengthens income, and promotes inclusion, with a 15% increase in female participation. \u201cPAVE is a concrete contribution to greener, healthier logistics,\u201d stated Matos, also highlighting that the operation registers zero default rates with partner banks.<\/p>\n Melissa Pesconi, representative of the Brazilian Business Council for Sustainable Development (CEBDS), praised the cooperatives' approach, emphasizing that their results serve as examples for large companies. She presented the sectoral decarbonization coalitions led by CEBDS: multi-sectoral initiatives that bring together the private sector, governments, and civil society to develop and implement plans to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in various sectors of the economy.<\/p>\n Melissa highlighted that "the technical perspective on data needs to engage with transformative practice, and cooperatives are already demonstrating that the energy transition must also be guided by social, economic, and political criteria."<\/p>\n Amazon reinforces community leadership.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Also in the Green Zone, the panel "Identity and Inclusion for Food Sovereignty in Amazonian Agriculture," moderated by Beatriz<\/p>\n Photo: Shutterstock<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Barros Braga, Secretary of Rural Development of Amap\u00e1, brought an in-depth discussion about how different Amazonian regions, with their own cultures, ecosystems, and production methods, are building pathways to ensure food security amidst structural inequalities.<\/p>\n With over two decades of experience, Cooperacre brought the perspective of extractivists to the panel. Advisor Alberto \u201cDande\u201d de Oliveira Tavares described the cooperative's trajectory of vertical integration, which invests in agro-industries for Brazil nuts, rubber, fruits, and oils. \u201cThe Amazon is not seen merely as a supplier of raw materials. Cooperacre has invested in vertical integration, guaranteeing income, autonomy, and the permanence of families,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n He reinforced the importance of recognizing the environmental services provided by extractivists: \u201cThese families deliver much more than food. They deliver climate balance, quality water, biodiversity. Payment for environmental services needs to reach them,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Emerson Tsunoda, a farmer and commercial manager at Camta, recounted the cooperative's reinvention process, which moved away from dependence on pepper monoculture and adopted integrated agroforestry systems (cocoa, a\u00e7a\u00ed, pepper, and other crops). This change expanded markets, diversified income, and increased productive resilience. He also celebrated that banks now only finance producers structured around agroforestry systems. "Those who consume our products also consume a story of unity and reinvention," he summarized.<\/p>\n Photo: Shutterstock<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Bioenergy and regional development\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n At Agri Zone, the panel on Regional Development and Energy Transition, promoted by the National Confederation of Agriculture and Livestock (CNA), brought together experts from the bioenergy sector to discuss how the decentralization of industry and the diversification of raw materials can boost entire cities and regions.<\/p>\n The cooperative movement was represented by La\u00eds Nara Castro, Sustainability Analyst at the OCB System. She presented updated data on the sector and emphasized that the movement is already an essential part of the national energy transition. \u201cToday, more than 910 cooperatives already generate their own energy, whether for internal consumption or to supply production processes. Adding it all up, we have more than 4,900 distributed generation projects spread across Brazil. It's clean, decentralized energy that reaches the end user, small and medium-sized producers,\u201d she described.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n![](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/opresenterural.com.br\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/shutterstock_1996929659-02.jpg?resize=300%2C237&ssl=1\")
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