Conservation of the Cerrado: Órigo Energia and the Cerrado das Águas Consortium

A leading company in solar and renewable energy is the first to join the Investors for the Future project, an initiative promoting sustainable agriculture that works towards resource availability with both present and future in mind.

The year 2024 began with a boost to the actions of the Cerrado das Águas Consortium (CCA). Órigo Energia, a pioneering renewable energy company in Brazil, was the first to join the initiative launched by the collaborative platform: “Investors for the Future”.

Launched in 2023, the project aims to connect the community and companies in awareness-raising actions and practices for conservation in the Cerrado biome in the Cerrado Mineiro region. By joining the project, individuals and/or companies invest in climate-smart and regenerative agriculture actions and activities, aiming at climate resilience and mitigating the effects of global warming.

With shared goals, Órigo Energia, a company with over 100 solar farms spread across Minas Gerais, Pernambuco, Ceará, Mato Grosso do Sul, the Federal District, and São Paulo, capturing sunlight and transforming it into electricity sustainably, partnered with CCA and carried out its first action in January. Together, on one of the properties participating in the PIPC – Conscious Producer Investment Program, a 0.5-hectare area was restored with the planting of 500 native seedlings.

The area, located in the municipality of Patrocínio, suffered from the effects of frost in 2021 and is now receiving investment to increase its resistance to the effects of the climate, while also contributing to increased biodiversity and a sustainable future.

Planting native seedlings in partnership with Origo Energia for the Investors for the Future Project.

 “The chosen area is located on the banks of one of the main streams that make up the Feio stream sub-basin in Patrocínio/MG. This sub-basin is a source of water supply for the municipality and requires sustainable actions in both the productive area and the native vegetation areas. We understand that it is through joint actions, both from producers and with the support of the public and private sectors, that we can achieve effective results in making productive landscapes sustainable, and Órigo's support is in this direction. The restoration of native vegetation is a long-term process, but one that needs to start today. In the implementation, we prepared the soil and controlled invasive species, which compete with the regenerating native species in the area and end up harming the development of the seedlings. In addition, we carried out the intercropping of native species to increase the density of the vegetation, and the area was fenced to prevent trampling by cattle.”

Explains Mariana Cristina, biologist and connected landscapes analyst at the Consórcio Cerrado das Águas.

Investments are made in two ways: financially or in goods and services, and joining the initiative is done through the CCA website. On the platform, the individual or company chooses how they can or want to invest to ensure the availability of natural resources in the future, whether by supporting sustainable agriculture to mitigate climate change or supporting the restoration of native Cerrado vegetation to protect endangered species; neutralizing the carbon footprint and promoting food security and ensuring water availability, and this is what motivated Órigo Energia to become an investor in the "Guardians of the Cerrado" category.

"Órigo remains steadfast in its commitment to the global sustainability agenda and in the pursuit of sustainable development. This partnership with the Cerrado das Águas Consortium (CCA), an initiative focused on sustainable innovation, demonstrates our dedication to working in alignment with other equally committed companies and associations to ensure an environmentally just and favorable future for human survival. Our goal, through Órigo's business model, is to increasingly involve entities that develop their activities with the responsible use of sustainable resources and the promotion of efficient production chains.”

Says Surya Mendonça, CEO of Órigo Energia

An area that suffered from the effects of frost is receiving investments to increase its resistance to the effects of the weather.

Contributing to the advancements of the CCA

As a collaborative platform, the Consortium has 12 coffee-growing companies that subsidize the strategies and provide support for the initiatives to move forward, being associate members. Therefore, with this project, the CCA receives reinforcement to continue its Climate-Smart and Regenerative Agriculture initiatives.

“We are living in a state of emergency when it comes to climate. This is a common problem, and issues of exclusivity or being recognized as the ‘owner’ of a solution can lead to a loss of focus. New paradigms are needed in decision-making when the subject involves the restoration of ecosystem services, and the search should focus on initiatives that can generate the greatest environmental impact. We are very happy to welcome Órigo as a partner, because collective actions generate fast, effective results on a planetary scale,”

Says Fabiane Sebaio, biologist and executive secretary of the Consórcio Cerrado das Águas.

To address a collective problem, collective action is also necessary.

Through joint effort, the CCA (Climate-Smart Agriculture) has amassed figures demonstrating that it is possible to build sustainable productive landscapes, positively impacting the Cerrado biome. Data from 2023 shows 500 hectares of Climate-Smart Agriculture implemented; 48,000 trees planted; 130 hectares of climate adaptation plans in 2022; 150 hectares of area undergoing restoration; and 367,334 tons of carbon sequestration potential.

About the CCA

Created in 2015 in Patrocínio, Minas Gerais, the Cerrado das Águas Consortium aims to aggregate efforts to implement strategies that guarantee the provision of ecosystem services in order to achieve a productive system resilient to climate change.

The initiative has the following companies as associate members: Nescafé, Expocaccer, Nespresso, Lavazza, Cooxupé, CofCo, Volcafé, Stockler, Daterra, Federação dos Cafeicultores do Cerrado, CerVivo, and Starbucks. In addition, the platform has key partners such as the Municipal Governments of Serra do Salitre and Coromandel.

Learn more by visiting: http://cerradodasaguas.org.br

About Órigo Energia

Órigo Energia, a leading company in distributed generation, is one of the pioneers in the sector in Brazil, operating since 2010. Órigo aims to popularize and democratize renewable energy in the country and actively participates in the main sectoral discussions and encourages measures that can make renewable energy a simple and accessible alternative for all Brazilians.

In 2019, Órigo obtained international certification as a B Corporation for its commitment to social and environmental impact through its business model. Its responsible performance also earned it the AmCham Eco Award for two consecutive years, and in 2023 it was considered one of the most promising companies in the market according to the Distrito sector report.

Also in 2023, it received the Customer Experience Award, the NPS Award, as the best-rated company in the distributed energy generation sector in Brazil. Among Órigo's important shareholders are: I Squared Capital, Augment Infrastructure, IFU, TPG ART- Circularis Partners, BlaO - Blue like an Orange Sustainable Capital, MOV Investimentos, and Mitsui.

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Press Information CCA Communication Office Polliana Dias (34) 9.98818-7718 / pollianadiasf@gmail.com

Ideal PR (www.ideal.pr) Juliete Neves (71) 9.9271-7248 / juliete.neves@ideal.pr Rodrigo Fonseca: (11) 9.4846-5003 / rodrigo.fonseca@ideal.pr Rafael Borges: (11) 9.7461-2757 / rafael.borges@ideal.pr