Does Aracruz use agricultural defense systems on its eucalyptus plantations?
The use of agricultural defense systems in silviculture, or the planting of trees, is quite reduced compared to agricultural crops. In some agricultural crops, such as citric fruits and sugar cane, the consumption is 50% greater than that practiced on forest plantations. The use of agricultural defenses there is linked to the degree of agricultural technology practiced in each country. For example, in Holland, one of the most advanced agricultural nations, consumption of the active principle in these products is around 15 kg/ha/year; in Belgium, it is about 10 kg/ha/year. In Brazil, this consumption is on the order of 5 kg/ha/year, according to information from the National Union of Agricultural Defense Product Manufacturers (SINDAG). At Aracruz, the use of these products does not exceed 2 kg/ha/year. In April 2003, the State of Espírito Santo’s Agricultural and Forestry Defense Institute (Idaf-ES) conducted inspections of the eucalyptus plantations owned by the Company in the municipa
