Environmental Management

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Units in Bucaramanga, Colombia, and Colac and Sunshine, in Australia, contribute to the reduction of emissions by generating part of the electricity consumed from solar panels.

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The index reflects the Company’s total electric power consumption (GJ) relative to the finished production volume from the slaughter and deboning units (TFP – finished produced ton). The index for the year 2022 needed to be corrected due to a calculation error in the previous report.

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Each industrial unit closely monitors water consumption through performance indicators (such as volume of water per ton of finished product), and is tasked with implementing tailored procedures to enhance resource management, depending on the specific regulations of the country where it operates. Operating units stablish annual targets for reducing water consumption based on their historical data, considering factors such as increased production or the adoption of new equipment.
In 2023, installation of new equipment led to an overall increase in water usage, particularly in the slaughter sector. To ensure animal welfare, the duration of water misting over the cattle in the corrals had to be extended, maintaining them at appropriate temperatures. To address this increase and focus on reducing consumption, we initiated several projects utilizing the CMQ (Minerva Quality Circle) methodology involving our employees. Despite operational adjustments, positive indicators were observed in terms of water use and disposal in Argentina and Colombia.
In Brazil our slaughtering and deboning units achieved a notable 6% reduction in water consumption per unit ofproduction compared to 2022. This improvement can be attributed to the effective implementation of water management tools such as the reuse charter and good water practices charter. In an our Latam units, the increase in water consumption was proportional to the rise in slaughter volume. Notably, the higher number of female animals slaughtered, which typically have a lower carcass weight than males, influenced the water consumption per ton of product indicator.
In 2023, Minerva Foods significantly increased its volume of reused water from 2,212 m³/day to 2,735 m³/day, marking a notable increase of 23.6% over the previous year.
* Increase in water consumption due to the incorporation of the new plant in Uruguay and operation in Australia throughout the year (in 2022, the plants in Australia were only operated for two months by Minerva Foods).
** Of which 236,142.00 m³ are consumed in water stressed areas.

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According to the World Resources Institute (WRI) Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas tool, only the Janaúba (MG) unit in Brazil is located in a water-stressed area. While the region where the Palmeiras de Goiás (GO) unit is situated is currently not classified as water-stressed, there is a potential for this situation to change in the future. In response, water risk studies were conducted at the Carrasco, Canelones, and Melo (PUL) units in Uruguay in 2023 to address potential impacts on water availability in the region.

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Regarding electricity consumption, Minerva Foods adheres to its Energy Efficiency Program. We meticulously monitor consumption and set targets based on technical indicators tailored to the specific context of each country in which we operate. This topic and its associated impacts are managed on three primary fronts:
1. Energy diagnosis;
2. Energy efficiency measures;
3. Awareness and engagement.
Since 2020, Minerva Foods has been proud to ensure that 100% of electrical energy consumed across its operations is sourced from renewable sources. This achievement has been made possible through the acquisition of renewable energy certificates, known as I-RECs. With the exception of Paraguay, where renewable energy sources exclusively power our operations, hour units rely on I-RECs.
In 2023, we remain steadfast this strategy, upholding our commitment to sustainability goals established in our Commitment to Sustainability. By zeroing Scope 2 emissions through the procurement of renewable electric
power, Minerva Foods not only fulfills its environmental responsibilities but also contributes to the growth of them the renewable energy generation market. In recognition of our efforts, we are proud to announce that for the third consecutive year, Minerva Foods has been awarded the Renewable Energy Seal. This prestigious seal not only confirms the renewable origin of our energy sources but also recognizes our commitment to fostering positive social and community relationships within the areas where our energy is generated. The seal is issued by the Totum Institute in partnership with the Brazilian Wind Energy Association (ABEEólica) and the Brazilian Clean Energy Association (ABRAGEL).
Conversion factor used for calculations: 1 Kilowatt-hour [kWh] = 0.0036 Gigajoule [GJ].

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The Asunción unit – plant 3 resumed operations as of 2022. The BPU unit in Uruguay was acquired in 2023. In 2023, the Australian units operated for the first time for a full year under Minerva Foods’ management.

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The Company’s water collection procedures strictly right here too authorizations issued by environmental agencies, emphasizing responsible usage, and minimizing negative impacts, both in the present and in future generations. Volumes varied mainly due to the accounting of the new BPU (URY), Esperance (AUS), Tammin (AUS), Colac (AUS) and Sunshine (AUS) units.

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In 2023, there was an 11% reduction in water withdrawal at the units in Colombia. In Uruguay, the new BPU unit, which began operating this year, was accounted for. In Australia, the Esperance and Tammin units only operated for part of 2022 under Minerva Foods’ management and in 2023 they operated for the whole year. Additionally, the country’s new units, Colac and Sunshine, were added to the indicator.

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In 2023, there was 12% in water disposal in Colombia; and 17% reduction in water disposal in Argentina.

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Effluent treatment monitoring and optimization actions are conducted in strict adherence to prevailing legislation in each country of operation. Within the Brazil and Latam divisions, all industrial facilities are equipped with effluent treatment stations (ETEs) that operate in full compliance with licensing guidelines and regulations set forth by competent regulatory bodies. Beginning in 2023, efforts were directed towards expanding the capacity and efficiency of ETEs in Argentina and Uruguay. In Australia, specifically at the Colac and Sunshine units, the effluent treatment process is outsourced through a contractual agreement with the local concessionaire.
Our quality control measures for treated effluents adhere to the stringent standards set by local regulatory bodies across all our operations. We meticulously monitor key indicators such as nitrogen, phosphorus, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and chemical oxygen demand (COD) to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. Furthermore, when disposing of treated effluents into
receiving bodies, we strictly adhere to the release limits prescribed by regulatory authorities. In the event of any deviations from these standards, our treatment systems undergo thorough evaluation to identify and rectify the underlying issues promptly.
In 2023, we allocated 19% of the treated effluent generated in Brazil to fertigation systems at our Araguaína (TO), Palmeiras de Goiás (GO), and Paranatinga (SP) units. The reduction in volume compared to 2022 can be attributed to the entry of new units in Latam as the fertigation process is currently only implemented in specific units.

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Water stressed areas refer to the Janaúba unit, in Brazil.

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* The indicator began to be reported in 2023. Non-renewable fuels were gasoline, diesel, LPG, natural gas, propane and aviation kerosene. Renewable fuels were biomass, hydrous ethanol, firewood and beef tallow.

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In 2023, Minerva Foods’ Brazilian units embarked on projects aimed at optimizing the use of fuels particularly wood, in steam generation, resulting in a reduction in consumption of over 2.8 thousand GJ. Notably, despite the 8% increase in the volume of finish production (TPA) compared to 2022, there was a 0.53% improvement in energy efficiency. In Argentina and Uruguay, operational procedures were implemented to enhance energy efficiency leading to a 2.3% reduction in electricity consumption in Argentina. Initiatives on optimizing steam usage, are expected to be reflected in next year’s energy consumption targets. In Colombia, efforts to improve energy efficiency include
optimizing cooling systems and generating electric power from solar panels, resulting in savings of over 17 thousand GJ, equivalent to a 12.2% reduction. Operational enhancements in Paraguay led to savings of around 432 tons of steam. Despite a 3% increase in the number of slaughtered animals in the Latam division, these improvements contributed to resource efficiency.

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In 2023, we had a cost of around US$ 1.4 million in waste disposal (except for single-use plastics) (WEF Impact of solid waste disposal).
* In 2021 and 2022, 17,501.85 and 42,139.46 tons, respectively, were destined or recovered by the Brazil division. In the Latam division, 83,653.90 and 103,040.02 tons, respectively, were destined or recovered. For 2023, we started reporting with the breakdown shown in the table above, unlike previous years.