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THE INSTITUTO BRF GATHERS ABOUT 100 VOLUNTEERS TO CLEAN THE BANKS OF THE TAQUARI RIVER IN LAJEADO (RS)

This initiative will be held on World Water Day (March 22)

Next Saturday, March 22, starting at 8 am, the Instituto BRF, BRF's social transformation pillar dedicated to promoting sustainable development in the communities where the company has operations, will clean the banks of the Taquari River. The initiative is organized by the Department of the Environment of Lajeado (RS) and has the support of other companies in the region, which will be distributed in different stretches of the river. The 100 volunteers gathered by the Instituto BRF will cover the area that passes through the city, where the company has production units. The initiative will be held on World Water Day and aims to support the preservation of the environment and raise awareness of the importance of water resource conservation.  

The executive director of the Instituto BRF, Raquel Ogando, says that this is one of several actions carried out in favor of Lajeado and the region. "BRF has been present in the city for more than 50 years. We have an ongoing commitment to local development and understand the importance of the Taquari River to people living throughout the valley. Therefore, we mobilize our volunteer employees to contribute to the preservation of local biodiversity and strengthen community ties, reinforcing a culture of sustainability and social responsibility", she adds.

In addition to participating in preservation actions, the Instituto BRF has been more intensely supporting the community of Lajeado since the floods of 2024. Recently, it made a series of deliveries and donations from the +Juntos Pelo Sul action to educational institutions and families in vulnerable situations in four cities in the Taquari Valley - Lajeado, Cruzeiro do Sul, Arroio do Meio and Estrela - which were affected by the floods that occurred in May this year. This support included the donation of more than 3,200 books, materials and furniture to 10 municipal schools, furniture and appliance kits for 273 families, as well as free psychological support and other relief initiatives.  

Water management

BRF has a robust environmental management governance and one of the pillars encompasses the water management of its own operations. Since 2020, the company has a public commitment to reduce water consumption in its production units by 13%. The target should be reached in 2025 and is already at 11.4%, an evolution of 40.48% between 2023 and 2024. 

Among the initiatives are the measurement and management of the water maps of the factories, the implementation of water reuse and reuse, and the automation of dosages in the processes to reduce consumption. In addition, BRF has the "Guardians of Water", who are volunteer employees responsible for monitoring waste, such as open taps.

Efforts in water management secured the A- grade in the “Water Security” category of CDP's 2025 list — the Sustainability Oscar — a global non-profit organization that manages the world's largest environmental disclosure system for companies, cities, states and regions.

Operation in Lajeado 

Inaugurated in 1974, the BRF's unit in Lajeado is one of the most important production centers of the company, employing about 3,400 people. With chicken and pig slaughterhouses, feed factory, hatchery and two own farms, the unit has a significant production, slaughtering about 430 thousand chickens and 3,950 pigs daily, in addition to manufacturing 17 tons of bacon per day. Recognized brands such as Sadia, Perdigão, Hilal, Perdix are produced locally and exported to strategic markets, including Japan, China, the United Arab Emirates and Chile.