Unilever Alimentos and CJ Selecta Announce Investment of 5.5 Million Euros in Regenerative Agriculture Program in Soy Planting

(Unilever Allimentos adn CJ Selecta) Entitled Renova Terra and with the goal of implementing regenerative agriculture practices in 45 thousand hectares by 2030, the project seeks to transform agricultural practices in soy production in the Cerrado, strengthen sustainable chains and promote positive environmental, social and economic impact

Unilever Alimentos, a business unit of the Unilever group, and CJ Selecta, a Brazilian producer of SPC (Soy Protein Concentrate), soybean oil, lecithin, soy ethanol and organomineral fertilizers, announce the launch of Renova Terra, a program that will invest 5.5M Euros (corresponding to approximately R$32 million) in the transition of producers to the introduction of regenerative agriculture practices in soybean production in the Brazilian Cerrado. The initiative aims to implement regenerative agriculture practices in up to 45 thousand hectares of soy cultivation by 2030, equivalent to about 70 to 90% of the soy footprint used by Unilever Alimentos' Hellmann's brand in Brazil, positioning the country as the headquarters of one of the company's most impactful regenerative soy projects in the world. This is because, in addition to contributing to the health of the soil and the environment, the program helps producers to increase productivity, resilience and profitability in the field.

The initiative connects directly to Unilever's global ambition to implement regenerative practices on 1 million agricultural hectares by 2030, as part of its positive impact strategy across the pillars of climate, nature, social impact and science-based innovation. "Sustainability is not an isolated pillar of our strategy, it is the basis of everything we do. Renova Terra is a concrete response to the challenges of the present, combining science, data and collaboration to regenerate worn-out soils and create value for everyone: planet, people and business", says Rodrigo Visentini, president of Unilever Alimentos in Brazil.

A partner of Unilever Alimentos for more than four years, CJ Selecta celebrates the launch of the program, an initiative that is fully in line with one of the company's main commitments: the decarbonization of the soy production chain in Brazil. The project values the consistent work developed with producers and reaffirms the company's role in promoting more responsible and innovative agriculture.

"We are very proud to join forces with Unilever on a project that goes beyond sustainability. Renova Terra represents a true transformation in the way we grow soybeans in the country," says Patrícia Regina Campos Sugui, ESG manager at CJ Selecta. "With the adoption of regenerative practices, we contribute to restoring ecosystems, strengthening soil health, and increasing the economic security of farmers. This collaboration positions Brazil as a global reference in innovative solutions in agribusiness, with positive impacts throughout the production chain", he adds.

The program will be implemented by TechnoServe, a nonprofit organization that works in more than 35 countries to build regenerative farms, companies and markets that increase yields. Globally, TechnoServe is a partner of Unilever in the implementation of 8 regenerative agriculture programs, working with farmers from 7 countries on an area of 65,000 hectares. Renova Terra will be developed over five and a half years, operating in the regions of Southwest Goiano, Triângulo Mineiro, Alto Paranaíba and Northwest of Minas Gerais, in the heart of the Cerrado biome. The structure provides for the progressive adhesion of up to 45 rural producers, who will receive personalized technical support, financial incentives for the implementation of practices and continuous monitoring. The scalability of the program will happen gradually, with a forecast to reach more than 20,000 hectares by 2027.

Each participating property will be monitored by environmental and productive indicators, such as carbon emissions, soil health, biodiversity, use of pesticides and crop resilience. The carbon measurement methodology will be determined by an independent external consultancy, ensuring traceability and transparency of the results. The information will serve as a basis for continuous adjustments and future expansions.

The project's funding model is shared between Unilever Alimentos and CJ Selecta. Producers receive financial support for the transition to the regenerative system, as well as access to training, state-of-the-art technical assistance and marketing incentives. With this structure, the program enables the adoption of innovative solutions in the field and values producers as protagonists of a systemic transformation.

Unilever Alimentos is a business unit of the Unilever Group. Globally, it is one of the largest companies in the food sector in the world and, in Brazil, it is present in every 9 out of 10 Brazilian homes through iconic brands, such as Hellmann's, Maizena, Knorr, Mãe Terra and Arisco. Being part of the daily lives of Brazilians, wherever food touches people, the company delivers quality from the initial ingredient to the final touch to transform, every day, the simple into special.

Since 1984, CJ Selecta has been a pioneer in the manufacture of soybean-derived products for various segments. Headquartered in Uberlândia (MG), an industrial unit in Araguari (MG), a commercial office in São Paulo (SP) and several branches throughout Brazil, the company is today one of the largest exporters of soy protein concentrate (SPC), with sources of transgenic and non-transgenic soybeans.

In 2017, the company underwent a major transformation after having its operational control acquired by the South Korean group CJ CheilJedang. Until then known as Sementes Selecta, the company is renamed CJ Selecta, becoming part of one of the world's largest conglomerates in food, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, entertainment, media, home shopping and logistics. Today, the company is part of CJ Bio Division, a global leader in bioscience based on the development of products that meet customer needs based on sustainable biotechnology. With a focus on offering environmentally friendly solutions, in the last 50 years the company has been working on the development of cutting-edge technologies for microorganisms, becoming a reference in the market of food amino acids and fermented nucleotides for food.