World Soil Day: the benefits of organic agriculture
* Giovanna Cappellano
To raise awareness of the importance of soil conservation, a vital natural resource for sustaining life on Earth, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) established December 5 as World Soil Day.
One way to conserve soil is through organic agriculture. Produced without synthetic pesticides, genetically modified organisms, or chemical fertilizers, organic agriculture not only influences food quality and the health of consumers but also benefits agricultural workers’ health and the quality of local soil, water, vegetation, and wildlife, since its practices are environmentally friendly.
Discover the six main benefits of organic agriculture:
- No synthetic pesticides: Since synthetic pesticides are not used in organic agriculture, the entire production ecosystem is healthier, from the soil to the food produced.
- Quality of life in rural areas: Organic farming creates jobs and provides fair income for agricultural workers, as organic certifications help safeguard their basic rights. In this way, organic agriculture contributes to improving the health and socioeconomic conditions of rural communities.
- Soil conservation: Unlike conventional agriculture, organic agriculture aims to conserve the soil through more sustainable practices. In this type of farming, everything is reused. For example, parts of plants can be used as fertilizer or to protect crops against pests. In conventional agriculture, these plant parts would be discarded or even burned. This approach helps maintain soil health and the health of the entire ecosystem involved, supporting more efficient and less harmful production.
- Animal welfare: In organic production, animals are fed only organic feed and kept in more spacious, less stressful environments, reducing the use of artificial hormones and synthetic antibiotics. With healthier animals and plant-based feed, their manure can be used as fertilizer. This reduces waste and closes the production cycle.
- Promoting biodiversity: Soil conservation and the absence of synthetic pesticides help protect birds, insects, and other animals, as well as fungi and bacteria in the soil. These organisms are essential for the growth of local vegetation and the maintenance of ecosystems.
- Carbon sequestration: Maintaining soil health helps keep the carbon captured by plants stored in the soil. By removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, this process helps reduce environmental impacts.
How Concepta Ingredients Promotes the Adoption of Organic and Sustainable Agricultural Practices
Concepta Ingredients, a business unit of Sabará Group, has been working for years to deliver organic and sustainable products that ensure traceability, health benefits, texture, and flavor. These products aim to create value for customers, suppliers, communities, employees, and shareholders, while encouraging other companies to take part in initiatives that contribute to sustainable and responsible progress. In addition, its supply chain reflects the values promoted by the United Nations, particularly those expressed in Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 15 (Life on Land) and 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).
Concepta’s organic and exotic ingredients portfolio includes 12 products, of which 66.66% hold Brazilian organic certification (BR), while 83.33% are certified organic under both EOS (European Union) and NOP (United States) standards. The products included in this list are Licuri Oil, Babaçu Oil, Passion Fruit Oil, Patauá Oil, Cupuaçu Butter, Brazil Nut Oil, Coconut Oil, Sacha Inchi Oil, and, more recently, four Açaí products: Açaí Oil, Açaí Extract, Açaí Powder, and Açaí Syrup.
The launch of Açaí Extract and Açaí Syrup directly contributes to socioeconomic development in the Amazon and indirectly benefits approximately 5,072 families who depend on açaí cultivation and harvesting. The fruit is used to produce four ingredients: Açaí Extract, Açaí Syrup, Açaí Powder, and Açaí Oil. These families work across 1,610 hectares of conserved land, including 1,079,430 hectares of organic land under conservation.
In addition, Sabará Group is internationally recognized for its Sociobiodiversity Enhancement Program®, established in 2000, which ensures full traceability of raw materials sourced from the Amazon Rainforest, the Cerrado, and the Caatinga. The program focuses on engaging communities, cooperatives, and associations that supply biodiversity-based raw materials through initiatives built around four pillars: balanced human development, water and biodiversity conservation, ethics and transparency, and fair profitability. These efforts promote respect, dignity, and socioeconomic inclusion.
The results achieved include:
- More than 1.9 million hectares of organic areas indirectly conserved through the enhancement of non-timber forest products.
- More than 6,000 rural workers, including members of Quilombola and Indigenous communities, potentially engaged in Concepta’s supply chain.
- 227 hectares of native forest under organic certification, preserved through Concepta’s direct incentives—equivalent to approximately 256 soccer fields of conserved land.
- More than 27,000 people indirectly impacted by this relationship.
- An average of BRL 7,500 in additional income per family, per metric ton, per year.
*Giovanna Cappellano is the ESG Coordinator at Sabará Group, a company with 65 years of experience providing sustainable technologies, solutions, and high-performance raw materials for the water treatment, food and beverage, animal nutrition, and animal health markets.
About Sabará Group
With more than 65 years of history, Sabará Group is a truly Brazilian company recognized for its ability to innovate and adapt. For three generations, the Group has overcome challenges and established itself in the markets where it operates. Its commitment to the well-being of people around the world goes beyond offering innovative products and services. The Group’s activities take future generations into account, focusing on solutions that ensure sustainability.
Through its various business segments, Sabará Group operates throughout Brazil and maintains a presence in countries across South America, North America, and Europe.
It specializes in developing high-performance technologies, solutions, and raw materials for water treatment in the sanitation and industrial sectors, animal nutrition and health, and the food and beverage industries.
Its products are developed using 100% Brazilian expertise and technology, helping establish Brazil as a benchmark in product research aimed at building a sustainable world.
