Dow working with Brazil's farmers to offset Rio 2016 Olympics footprint

The Dow Chemical Co. said on Tuesday that it is working to help farmers in Brazil implement sustainable farming practices through its subsidiary, Dow AgroSciences Brazil.
 
The project aims to decrease the environmental impact of growing corn and soybean crops while also optimizing operations to increase output from farmers. This project is also in line with sustainability goals set by the organizers of the Olympic Games that will take place in Rio de Janeiro in the summer of 2016.

“The objective is to help farmers produce more with less, and increase yield through advanced and more sustainable agricultural practices – all while contributing to one of Rio 2016’s most important sustainability goals,” Welles Pascoal, president of Dow AgroSciences Brazil, said. “This project is fully aligned with Dow AgroSciences’ mission to put science at work to address the needs of an ever-growing world through innovative technologies for crop protection, seeds and biotechnology.”

Farmers who are participating in the Dow project will have access to the company's technology and services, including harvest and profit maps, soil sampling and laboratory analysis, as well as satellite imagery. They also will have access to weather-monitoring devices and will be able to utilize crop and seed protection products.

The project will conclude after the 2016 corn harvest.