OREANDA-NEWS. Registrations are now open for the Gerdau Best of the Land Award, the largest award for the sector of agricultural machinery and equipment in South America. In its 31st edition, the award will evaluate products and actions of the participants in the categories of New Product, Highlights, and Research and Development. Submissions will be analyzed by a committee of specialists with recognized experience and institutions working in the field of agrarian sciences in Brazil and Argentina.

The purpose of the award is to promote innovation, excellence and creativity in agribusiness and to offer the market the opportunity to know the best machinery, equipment and components for agriculture produced in the Mercosur countries and Chile.

In 2013, the award has the participation of the Agriculture, Cattle Raising and Agribusiness Department of the State of Rio Grande do Sul, the Department of Agriculture and Supplies of the State of Sao Paulo, the Department of Agriculture and Supplies of the State of Parana, the Brazilian Agricultural Engineering Association (SBEA), the National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA) of Argentina, Agrishow (SP) Fair and Expointer (RS) Fair.

Registrations are free and can be made at the website www.melhoresdaterra.com.br or by regular post by sending a letter to the care of Gerdau Corporate Communications - Av. Farrapos, 1811 - Cep: 90220-005 - Porto Alegre - RS - Brazil. The same web site contains the full regulation of the award.

Gerdau is the leading producer of long steel in the Americas and one of the largest suppliers of special long steel in the world. It has more than 45,000 employees and industrial operations in 14 countries with operations in the Americas, Europe and Asia, which together represent an installed capacity of more than 25 million metric tons of steel per year. Gerdau is the largest recycler in Latin America and around the world and transforms millions of metric tons of scrap into steel every year. Gerdau is listed on the stock exchanges of Sao Paulo, New York and Madrid, and has approximately 140,000 shareholders.