This reservoir can store100 million liters (well over 26 million gallons) of rainwater, which is drained from the field used for drying coffee.
Seedling Nursery
All coffee seedlings are grown in the Plato Azul Farm nursery.
Facts
The reservoir's maximum capacity is 100 million liters (26,417,205 gallons) of rainwater.
Brazilian agriculture is experiencing more adverse weather.
In early 2014, a drought ravaged the production of coffee bringing high temperatures, severe water stress, low relative humidity and high solar
radiation. These conditions resulted in a very significant drop in coffee production.
The drought also comprimised the next year's coffee harvest. However, irrigated crops were less effected by the stress of the drought.
It has been scientifically proven that irrigation has a positive impact on coffee growth and yield.
It also minimizes the adverse weather on the farm's culture and ensures reasonable yields or even higher compared to those upland.
Currently, the Plato Azul Farm in the Cerrado Mineiro has approximately 800 hectares (1,976 acres) of coffee, 65% of which is under the
irrigation system. The availability of rainwater dictates the success of the irrigation system.
Solution
The Plato Azul coffee farm is located in Tiros City, Alto Paranaiba region (MG), and owned by the Carneiro family.
In order to circumvent the environmental limitations, the owners invested in a bold pioneer project to ensure enough water to irrigate portions
of the crops that were currently dryland. The project was conceived and managed by the Plato Azul team.
The Plato Azul farm has an area of 538,195 sq ft of paved yard for coffee drying and will be used to collect water.
The Plato Azul farm also has 53,819 sq ft of roof area; therefore, making the total catchment area 592,015 sq ft.
Considering this catchment area and the average rainfall recorded at the farm in the last 45 years, approximately 1,800 mm (475.5 gal) per year,
there is an estimated potential of capturing 99 million liters (26,153 gal) of water. Even adopting the lower limit of 1,500 mm (396 gal) per
year, the collection would be 82.5 million liters (21,795 gal) each year.
Sustainability
Minimizing water loss by evaporation is a major concern, as the surface area of the reservoir is 214,740 sq ft.
If there is an average daily evaporation rate of 4mm (.00106 gal), close to 29 million liters (7,660 gal) of water will
be lost annually. The reservoir surface area was recorded as collecting 19,950 m2 (214,740 sq ft) x 1,500 mm
(0.396 gal) of rainfall, the same as the estimated evaporation loss.
Strategies are being investigated to reduce the evaporation of water from the reservoir.
For example, the addition of substances to “proof” the mirror of the water.
This substance functions as the cuticle (highly hydrophobic wax layer), a natural substance on the coffee leaf,
which greatly hampers evaporation of water from the leaf.
History
The Plato Azul Farm was established in the 1990's in Cerrado Mineiro, a property with a suitable regime of rains,
absence of frost, and with the latitude and longitude appropriate for the cultivation of coffee.
Today, Plato Azul Farm has 800 hectares (1,976 acres) of planted coffee, of which 240 hectares (593 acres) are drip
irrigated. The farm will apply this same system of irrigation to the other 560 hectares (1,383 acres) in 2016.
In more than 2,000 hectares (4,942 acres), the Plato Azul Farm promotes the preservation of the cerrado (forest)
and the sustainable handling of natural resources. In 2008, the Plato Azul Farm received a certificate of
sustainability from the Rain Forest Alliance and the environmental license to produce coffee and bestowals regulated
for irrigation.
Sustainabilty and environment
(Same as Sustainability)
Social Responsibility
The Plato Azul Farm employs 150 people during the harvest season. Plato Azul Farm values its employees and
families and the community in which they belong. Courses and lectures are provided by professionals accredited
within official institutions, allowing employees access to information and training necessary for safe and
responsible operation. In addition, the Plato Azul Farm offers health benefits and supports social projects that
ensure quality of life and satisfaction of workers while performing their respective tasks.
Rain Forest Alliance
The Rain Forest Alliance organization was established in 1987, and has more than 17 thousand members worldwide.
The organization has a strong commitment to preserve the ecosystems and biodiversity through environmental projects
with companies, local communities and landowners.
Environmental License
The Environmental Permit indicates a project is in line with the environmental legislation regarding the plans, projects and control measures. An annual audit is conducted at the farm for the maintaining of its license.
Credits:
Campo & Negócios Magazine
Aldair José Ribeiro - Agronomist – Platô Azu Farm, Tiros - MG
Cláudio Pagotto Ronchi – Agronomist and Professor in UFV – Forest Campus
