The National Supply Company (Conab) partnered with Itaipu Binacional and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS/UN) to modernize and renovate grain warehouses located in Paraná and Mato Grosso do Sul.
Under the agreement, R$55 million (USD 9.6 million) will be invested by Itaipu Binacional, a partnership between Paraguay and Brazil that runs the hydroelectric plant at the Itaipu Dam, to carry out situational diagnoses and prepare executive engineering projects for Conab's warehouses in Rolândia, Cambé, and Ponta Grossa, in Paraná, and Maracajú, in Mato Grosso do Sul. The modernization will allow the company to operate the Ponta Grossa warehouse at its maximum potential, storing up to 420,000 tons of grain, up from the current capacity of 300,000 tons.
"This partnership with Itaipu Binacional will increase storage capacity by 120,000 tons in Ponta Grossa alone. Over the past few years, neglect of Conab's warehouses and infrastructure has resulted in a reduction of our storage capacity by more than 30%," said director-president of Conab, Edegar Pretto.
The modernization of the unit will also facilitate the flow of grain production, notably wheat and soybeans, from Paraná, Santa Catarina, and Rio Grande do Sul, given its strategic location 200 kilometers from the Port of Paranaguá.
UNOPS, the UN office specializing in infrastructure, will oversee for the project's execution. The first phase, scheduled to begin this year, includes diagnosing of the current warehouse infrastructure, preparing and revising executive projects, and start the bidding process to hire the company responsible for the work. The renovation is expected to begin in April 2026, with completion estimated in two years.
"This project is fundamental to strengthening food security in Brazil, benefiting both producers and consumers. Through this partnership, UNOPS also reinforce its commitment to achieving the goals of the Sustainable Development Goals, driving a more efficient, resilient, and accessible food system for all people," highlighted Fernando Barbieri, UNOPS representative in Brazil.
