The Brazilian Cooperative of Rural Producers of Monteiro (Capribom) is a success story in the northeastern region of Brazil. The cooperative has 583 registered members and produces a variety of dairy products, including milk, cheese, and yogurt. The cooperative has overcome challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, due to the installation of solar panels on its headquarters in 2018. The solar system has reduced energy costs by 90%, allowing the cooperative to continue operating during the pandemic. The cooperative has also benefited from government programs, including the National School Feeding Programme and the Food Acquisition Programme. The cooperative’s president, Fabrício de Souza Ferreira, has emphasized the importance of reducing dependence on government programs and expanding the market to reach more customers. The cooperative is also working to recover the Goat and Sheep Slaughterhouse of Monteiro, which was built in 2000 but never put into operation. The slaughterhouse will have a capacity to slaughter 120 small animals daily and will be the only one in Paraíba to comply with sanitary standards. The cooperative’s success is attributed to its leadership, solar energy, and government support.
Source: https://www.ipsnews.net/2024/11/solar-energy-saves-dairy-cooperative-brazils-semi-arid-region/
