LongPing High-Tech releases first Sustainability Report in Brazil

LongPing High-Tech, a corn and sorghum hybrid giant, released its first Sustainability Report to reinforce the growth of its sustainable agribusiness. The document summarizes the evolution of the company's projects, research with hybrids, business strategies and results achieved throughout 2022, in addition to its sustainability initiatives and environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices.

Committed to reinforcing good market practices and bringing the best seed solutions to rural producers, LongPing High-Tech formed a Sustainability and ESG Committee last year to contribute to its strategic direction from the perspective of the environmental, social and governance pillars along the entire production chain. The guidelines include making the company a reference for sustainability and ESG, disseminating sustainable education among its workforce, and encouraging innovation and good practices in ethics and corporate governance.

″The launch of the Sustainability Report is our commitment to all our audiences. LongPing has been drafting an investment and innovation agenda for national agribusiness, which is why we are presenting this great project to the market. With great satisfaction, we share these initiatives with our entire productive ecosystem,″ said Aldenir Sgarbossa (President of LongPing High-Tech).

Pillars of sustainability

LongPing High-Tech's premise is management focused on the excellence of its portfolio of products, services and solutions, as well as on operational efficiency. In the field, productivity is the main focus, as well as extracting more volumes of seeds from the same number of hectares through agronomic adjustments and adaptations and daily care against insects and pests. In its units, the company has invested in improving processes, reusing water, producing solar energy and reducing polluting gas emissions by using forklift trucks powered by lithium batteries, to reduce costs, enhance sustainability and preserve the environment.

In 2022 alone, the company reused 28 million liters of rainwater to increase water sustainably and efficiently. By the end of 2023 when its concludes its upgrading, the company will generate a volume of more than 48 million m³ of reused water from its units.

In the area of energy, a project that started last year installed 6,265 photovoltaic solar panels with a capacity of 4.59 GWh, a 20% saving in electricity consumption. More than R$14 million was invested in this clean energy project alone. However, the company continues to invest to further optimize its resources, and in 2023, it is predicted to generate 20.24 GWh.

Continuing its improvement projects, this year, the company is completely replacing its fleet of LPG and lead-acid battery forklifts with its own fleet composed exclusively of forklifts powered by lithium batteries. The company will, therefore, completely eliminate the burning of fossil fuels, and reduce the costs of maintenance and battery recharging, as vehicles can be powered with renewable energy sources, such as solar energy.

In addition, residues from plantations can be reused as biomass. By the end of 2024, biomass will also be used to produce clean energy. Within two years, LongPing aims to be self-sufficient in the production of electricity.

In the last year alone, more than 6,000 tons of general waste generated by LongPing was destined for reuse, recycling and other forms of recovery.

Investment in people

One of the main highlights of 2022 was LongPing High-Tech's investment in people, especially in terms of professional and personal development. In five years, the company tripled its number of employees, reaching 1,200 permanent employees and more than 5,000 seasonal workers in seed production fields.

During that period, the company provided more than 54 hours of training per employee and promoted or increased the salaries of more than 340 employees, in addition to implementing eight compensation and recognition programs. LongPing has invested heavily in young students, who are the future of the company. Its internship and trainee programs already employ more than 40 people and offer job opportunities in all areas of the company. At the end of 2022, the Junior Internship Program was created to hire, during the vacation period, the children of employees, offering remuneration and all other necessary assistance.

Continuing with its investment in people projects, this year, the company launched a language platform, which has already trained 300 people.

Solid governance

In order to generate effective growth and offer the best solutions to national agribusiness, LongPing High-Tech established a corporate governance in line with the best business practices and with high standards of governance. These initiatives build investor confidence and protect the interests of customers and partners, through strengthening internal management processes. Through a strict and respectful Code of Conduct, LongPing's corporate policies, norms and standards are focused on respecting and complying with the laws, rules and regulations of evert country and region where it operates.

In conducting this process focused on ethics and transparency, the company created the following committees: the Leadership Team Management (LTM) with 11 members from all operating countries; the Executive Board; the Business Committees linked to the Executive Board; the Internal Audit and Risk Management Committee; the People Committee; the Investment Committee (CAPEX), the Sustainability and ESG Committee; in addition to internal and external audits. These working groups contribute to the company's responsible and balanced performance.

LongPing operates based on the philosophy of a long-term vision to promote sustainable development throughout the production chain, as well as to encourage customers, third parties and society on such principles. ″Sustainable development and ESG are central elements in our action strategies. The inspiration comes from the Citic Group, of which LongPing is a part of, whose management promotes ESG as a driver of business development and corporate strategy,″ Sgarbossa said.

The sustainability report can be seen at https://www.lpht.com.br/esg.