Agribusiness figures do not always reveal the stories of those who make the sector account for more than 23% of Brazil’s GDP. The intense transformation of rural real estate in recent years has increased business complexity and placed agribusiness on an inevitable path of professionalism. There is already data indicating a paradigm shift in the leadership of these companies, which represents a shift in the way agricultural and livestock businesses are done in Brazil. According to the Getúlio Vargas Foundation, 34% of leadership positions on farms are held by women, an unprecedented level that should not slow down in the upcoming harvest. In parallel, business digitization, a sustainable agenda, and greater consumer outreach help create a new mosaic of the field.
All in One Voice’s coffee producer and mentor, Mariselma Sabbag, cites the past 10 years as the most intense recent change. “When I think of my mother, for example, I know she played a major role in the business, but was not seen as the protagonist. We should celebrate the change of scenery because it has evolved. Today a woman can run an agricultural enterprise without the many barriers she would have faced before Ten or twenty years, “she commented.
The presence of women in this field is growing strongly, especially in managerial positions and in some productive activities, and was strengthened by the 8th ABMRA Survey on the Habits of Rural Producers, released at the end of May of that year. According to the data, the female force currently represents 26% of the decision-making and leadership positions in the rural properties. For 94% of the producers consulted, women are vital or very important in rural businesses.
Collective power
It took Mariselma time to understand that the countryside would be fertile ground to do it. Graduated in information technology, she began to be enchanted by the prospect of coffee growing ten years ago, when she took a coffee grading course. In this training, I discovered the existence of an International Women’s Coffee Alliance (IWCA) while learning about the different markets in which a quality product could stand out. “Women’s groups, like the ones in the café, have a lot to offer to the new generations of entrepreneurs. The sector opened its doors once and for all and educational programs began to welcome and prepare these new women in agribusiness,” explains Mariselma, who is also chair of the Agribusiness Committee. In Grupo Mulheres do Brasil.
For six years, CNMA provided a space for discussion and unity for producers across the country.
Participation in events and seminars targeting women in agribusiness is also a way we found it to strengthen the female presence in this field and enhance the exchange of experiences. Among these meetings is the National Conference on Women in Agribusiness – CNMA, which has provided a space for discussion and unity for producers across the country for six years.
The event, whose mission is to highlight the power of women in agribusiness, has been taking place online since last year, due to the pandemic. In 2020, CNMA counted on the participation of about 2,300 people, who followed a series of actions that highlighted the contribution of women as accelerators of innovations driving agribusiness in Brazil and the world. This year, the sixth edition will have the theme “Digital Value and Addition. New Leadership in Agro”, which will be promoted on October 25, 26 and 27, in the form of a digital experience.
Women’s leadership
Another way to balance the participation of women and men in agribusiness is the formal education of the caliphs. Many daughters of producers do not have a complete vision of the business for cultural reasons and end up choosing a career separate from the field. “Fortunately, this scenario is also changing because we can talk more about family succession, as well as new training courses that align with agribusinesses with the city. This is great, because it opens the door to a new generation that is engaged, connected and sharing experiences with the elderly, which is a novelty Extremely wealthy, “adds Mariselma. Also remember that in Todos a Uma Voz movement, the educational agenda is among the priorities of the discussions that have been raised, especially since the interest in agribusiness that appears in other branches of knowledge, such as technology, management and communication, has grown. “There are still many ways to travel to find a balance between men and women in the countryside,” he concludes, “but we can really celebrate these first accomplishments.”
About all in one vote
The “all for one vote” movement was officially launched in February 2021 to connect agribusinesses and the end consumer. It brings together key leaders in the sector and has a diverse performance that brings more sympathy to those who work in the field.
The movement is supported by ABAG, ABCC, ABIA, ABIARROZ, ABIEC, ABISOLO, ABITRIGO, ABMRA, ABPA, ABRALEITE, AGROLIGADAS, AGROLINE, AIPC, AMA BRASIL, ANDAV, ASBRAM, CECAFÉ, CICARNE, CLIMATANA, DO, CNMA, LEGROLINE. SNA, plus many means of communication and care for CropLife.
To learn more about the movement, visit: http://www.todosaumasovoz.com.br.
Source: Acessoria
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