Dubai – This Wednesday (23), Brazil promoted an event to highlight the country’s potential in technology and partnerships in agribusiness. Agritalks featured Brazilian and Arab executives who shared experiences in projects, especially those dedicated to the sustainability of food production. The event was hosted by the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil) with support from the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC).
Karen Jones, head of the ApexBrasil office in Dubai; Rafael Solimeo, head of the ABCC office in Dubai; and Fernando Igreja, Brazilian ambassador to Abu Dhabi, opened the seminar. “I believe this is the ideal moment for this event, for us to talk about Brazil in terms of technology and sustainability, and having as representatives entities like EMBRAPA, which is known all over the world,” said Solimeo.
In Innovation, the president of the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA), Celso Moretti (pictured above), showed practical examples of partnerships the institution has been developing with startups. Among the Brazilian partners, Moretti pointed to 100% Livre, which produces vertical gardens in São Paulo city, and Amazonika Mundi, which has created plant-based foods, including kafta.
Internationally, one of the institutes with which EMBRAPA has been trying to get closer is the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) in the United Arab Emirates. “We are looking at water management and species like quinoa and cassava. Also, in technology, we are working on how to use data. On climate issues, we don’t want to be reactive, but proactive,” said Tarifa Alzaabi, ICBA’s director-general, who also spoke at the event.
Saeed Ali Alyamahi, director of Research and Development at the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA); and Noura Saeed Mohammed Al Nuaimi, a researcher at the institution, also participated in the discussion with Moretti and Alzaabi.
The Secretary of Innovation, Rural Development, and Irrigation of the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Food Supply (MAPA), Fernando Camargo, spoke on the distinguishing features of Brazilian agriculture in a post-pandemic world, where the food security issue stands out even more.
Also addressing initiatives in Brazil, but from a private-sector standpoint, Elie Atallah, Corporate Affairs executive manager of BRF in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, spoke on projects focused on sustainability. Among them are efforts to have plants using renewable energy and reusing all the water in production processes. “Sustainability is a big long-term investment. And in a big company, it is not just one department that takes care of that; all the employees need to be trained and understand the subject,” said Atallah.
Bhupen Dubey, CEO of Advanta Seeds, part of the UPL group, thinks the same way. For him, one of the points to be discussed is logistics. “We need to think about the geographical distance of a company’s processes, the carbon footprint, and identify how and where to produce locally,” said Dubey, recalling the significant changes COVID has brought about in this regard.
Also during Agritalks, the program for the cotton sector, Floresta +, was launched. Among the authorities at the ceremony were Mauro Mendes, governor of Mato Grosso; and Júlio Busato, president of the Brazilian Association of Cotton Producers (ABRAPA). The Minister of the Environment of Brazil, Joaquim Leite, participated through a video message.
The topic of finance was also discussed by Francisco Jardim, CEO of SP Ventures, and Tarek Fouad, Head of Growth at Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO). Jardim spoke about the prospect of Brazilian producers implementing technology not only at their headquarters but also directly in the productive areas of the farms. Fouad stressed food security would continue to be a vital issue to the UAE in the coming years. “This is the region’s priority. And in the public and private sector, we are investing in education [about sustainability] and initiatives like Pure Harvest,” he said of the startup using technology to produce foods like tomatoes in the Gulf country.
The Apex-Brasil Agribusiness manager, Marcio Rodrigues, closed Agritalks. The event also featured moderators Kamal Lalwani and Paddy Kennedy.
Translated by Elúsio Brasileiro
