JBS recently announced that it will invest, through Seara Alimentos, R$ 180 million in the construction and operation of a biodiesel factory in the municipality of Mafra, Santa Catarina. The unit will be operated by JBS Biodiesel, division of JBS New Business. The raw material will come from waste from Seara's production chain, such as poultry and pork fat. "In addition, the plant also has great synergy with the soy complex, complementing its base of raw materials for production," says the statement.

Also according to the company, JBS Biodiesel aims to "add value to the waste from the JBS production chain", by reusing beef tallow and other inputs, such as recovered frying oil for fuel production.

In Santa Catarina alone, JBS has more than 30 Seara operations in 18 municipalities, including poultry, pork, industrialized, feed mills, hatchery centers, logistics terminals and distribution centers. In addition, in the state, the company has around 16.5 thousand employees and a network of 2.5 thousand integrated producers.

"The company's bet on a new operation is in line with the positive horizon for the sector in Brazil," says JBS Biodiesel director Alexandre Pereira. "By 2023, from the RenovaBio program, the blend of biodiesel in the diesel composition will reach 15% with the entry of B15. With the new unit, JBS Biodiesel will more than double its production capacity, exceeding the 600 mark. millions of liters of biodiesel per year. "

In Mafra, the biodiesel plant will occupy 76,000 square meters and have a production capacity of 900 tons per day. In addition, 400 jobs will be generated. The work should be completed by the first half of 2021.