CNA discusses the importance of introducing small and mid-sized producers into the international market

News

"The focus of the Agro.BR Program is to include small and mid-sized producers in foreign trade"

CNA discusses the importance of introducing small and mid-sized producers into the international market

Brasilia (Oct. 16, 2020) – Lígia Dutra, the superintendent of International Relations at the Brazilian Confederation of Agriculture and Livestock (CNA) stressed the importance of Brazil investing in having small and mid-sized rural producers inserted into the international market, pointing out that they are representative in the production of fruits, fish, dairy products, honey, specialty coffees, flowers and vegetables – all priority chains for agribusiness abroad.

Lígia took part in a panel on October 16 titled “Food security and a generation without hunger” at the World Food Day, promoted by the Food Tech Hub Br – Alimentos para a Vida (Food For Life), an institution focused on creating the best food innovation ecosystems in the world.

The focus of the Agro.BR Program is to include small and mid-sized producers in foreign trade, a CNA initiative in partnership with Apex Brasil to increase the number of Brazilian rural entrepreneurs participating in the global market while preparing them to capture new consumers and diversifying the list of products exported by Brazil.

“These chains are going to have an economic impact and a growth for agribusiness, in addition to the positive social impact that comes from introducing small and mid-sized producers into the export chain,” he stated

The superintendent pointed out that this growth involves improvements in the production costs for the sector and in other aspects such as adding value to products from the agricultural sector and for cooperatives and associations.

“We understand that there has to be scale or distinction in exports. This is why we need to invest in adding value and also take a look at Asia, which is a significant market for Brazilian agribusiness.”

Lígia emphasized that, while Brazil has already carried out a number of measures aimed at adding value in the processing sector and in primary production, this is still a huge challenge for the country.

“Adding value takes place within numerous perspectives, and we need to look at all of them. One of the key requirements for Brazil is to invest in services in order to boost logistics and information technology in this sector, which are essential for agriculture. Investing in this sector is an investment in added value for agro.”

Also taking part in the debate were Fernando Camargo, the Ministry of Agriculture’s Secretary of Innovation, Rodrigo Santos, Head of Crop Science Latam at Bayer, Marina Grossi, president of the Brazilian Business Council for Sustainable Development (CEBDS) and Daniel Balaban, director of the World Food Program in Brazil’s Center of Excellence Against Hunger.

All participants identified science and technology as essential factors for the growth of the Brazilian agricultural sector and, through public-private partnerships, this could contribute to reducing hunger in Brazil and the rest of the world.

“The price of food is paramount in reducing hunger and inequality. So we need technologies that help maintain affordable prices and boost incomes for small and mid-sized producers. By doing this, we’ll achieve a rather significant economic impact in Brazil,” Lígia Dutra concluded.

CNA Press Office
Telephone: (61) 2109-1419
flickr.com/photos/canaldoprodutor
twitter.com/SistemaCNA
facebook.com/SistemaCNA
instagram.com/SistemaCNA
facebook.com/SENARBrasil