Monday started with a morning visit to the Parana Agronomic Institute in Londrina/PR. We started with a presentation about the research being completed at the facility. Then we boarded a roofed wagon and a tractor pulled us around the facility looking at coffee trees, mango trees, rubber trees etc. We learned that it takes 4 to 5 years for the first coffee bean to appear and how it is harvested. We saw latex draining down a cut in a rubber tree. We also could see red soil forever. When we got of the wagon and wiped our faces and arms from the sweat all the red came off on the paper towels. It was amazing how much red soil was on us. The red is caused by oxidized iron.
In the afternoon we returned to an EMBRAPA Research station focusing on soybeans. A group of farmers from Canada also joined us in this presentation. Food production is going to need to increase by at least 20% worldwide and 20-40% increase will come from Brazil. This year Brazil surpassed the U.S. in soybean production. U.S. is at a big advantage just in the location of its lakes and rivers. Brazil's rivers flow inland from east to west which just don't help it immensely. Therefore transportation by road has to be used and the roads clearly are not up to par. After we left EMBRAPA the pool at the hotel in Assis/SP was extremely attractive for our last night of the long trip. We quickly ate and then almost everyone, including, the bus drivers, Shirota and myself met at the pool and just chilled the evening away. It was nice to have everyone together.
We got up Tuesday morning and toured Nova America which is a sugar cane processing plant. Many of their plant leaders assisted with the visit and made us feel very important and welcomed. Sugar cane is a new crop to us all and it is not only grown to make sugar but also for ethanol production. Stalks are planted rather than seeds. You could really see the impact of the lack of rain at this visit and one this morning. When harvested sugar cane can only be taken off in one direction. The processing of sugar cane is a very detailed process. This plant was down for clean up but we did receive a presentation on the processing after we went out to the field to see harvesting. We were able to taste sugar cane cut right from the stalk. Four of the students were able to ride in the harvester which was exciting for them. Another piece of information was how combustible the bales of sugar cane stalks and leaves after harvesting are. With the hot weather a bale can easily catch fire. Water trucks must be always present during harvesting and starting this year any burning is counted against the farm. We learned about hydrous and anhydrous ethanol and that this huge ethanol plant is self sufficient in its production of energy and electricity. That was amazing to learn. They treated us to lunch and we headed back to Piracicaba which took about six hours after lunch. Most slept at least half the way home. We arrived in Piracicaba about 7:00. Everyone went their own way as reality hit that the long trip was over and we soon would be heading back to the states. Some went to supper, others worked on projects, contacted family and friends while others just crashed.
The students spent all day today working on their group presentations. Wish the students all the best on their project presentations tomorrow and we will be home before you know it!!! For me, it has been great working with the students and all of us thank Shirota; Dr's. Perez, Mello and Caron; Cristina, the homestay families and Juliana for their patience , knowledge and time. Parents and friends, thank you for your support to the students in participating with AZP.
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