Many negotiations and few actions in favor of Brazilian agriculture

The G20 discussions, despite their relevance in the global economic scenario, continue to produce few concrete results that benefit Brazilian agriculture. These meetings tend to reflect biased views that fail to consider fundamental issues for Brazil's agricultural sector.

The lack of balance of interests and equality in negotiations, which would guarantee fair and adequate treatment, are some of the barriers that prevent the country from consolidating itself as a strategic and sustainable player in global agribusiness.

The Brazilian agricultural sector faces the challenge of competing with subsidies offered by several major players, such as France, which has been increasing criticism of the sustainability of national production while financing its own agriculture, with questionable sustainability, on a large scale.

The dichotomy between the image that is sold of Brazilian production and the reality of the investments and innovations that make Brazil one of the largest global exporters is evident. Brazil has made progress in both productivity and sustainability, but this narrative is often ignored outside the country.

In practice, the G20 meetings have been a stage for speeches that, far from supporting Brazilian agriculture, often harm it.

On our side, some indicators show situations that need improvement, such as the increase in deforestation and fires, for example, associated with the lack of better state policies, guaranteeing constant evolution and promoting a correct evaluation of sustainable practices, already correctly implemented. Such practices unfortunately are still not encouraged with the due and necessary support, including financial, weakening the correct and adequate positioning of our country on the international scene.

Even with an agriculture that adopts cutting-edge, undeniably sustainable technologies, Brazil still lacks proper direction. It still needs to guarantee at least what is expected of assertive, transparent and truthful communication, supported by better legal certainty. In addition, more efficient economic management is essential to increase investment attractiveness and help expand the implementation of increasingly sustainable practices.

This commitment to sustainable practices in Brazil is evident, especially due to the growth in the plant nutrition sector. The use of new and more efficient technologies, commonly called “special”, offers better results with less use of inputs, regardless of their origin (minerals, organominerals, organics, biofertilizers, biologicals). This progress translates directly into “less environmental impact” and reinforces the importance of the sector for sustainability within the best international practices. In addition, it promotes efficient use of nutrients, preservation of soil and water resources, enabling regenerative, environmentally friendly and highly technological agriculture.

It is worth remembering that in 2023, the special fertilizers market registered expansion, with an increase of 2% and revenue of R$ 22,642 billion, according to the Brazilian Association of Plant Nutrition Technology (Abisolo), and the outlook remains positive for the sector.

A study published by McKinsey, called “Global Farming”, indicates that Brazilian agriculture continues to have excellent expectations for sustainable growth, with data showing that between 2022 and 2024, the number of farmers who adopted organic products grew by 35%, and 70% of them plan to maintain or increase investment in these products, regardless of price fluctuations of conventional inputs.

These data undoubtedly reinforce that Brazilian agriculture is at the forefront of mitigating environmental impacts by increasing efficiency in the field. On the other hand, although there are concrete advances in the use of new technologies, the Brazilian agricultural sector faces internal challenges to make these practices viable in an accessible and continuous manner.

Brazil has the resources to become a global leader in green agriculture, but it is hampered by the lack of adequate government “aid” to drive this transition. Green financing, although positive, is difficult for most producers to access, and current regulations are insufficient to ensure the stability needed by the sector. Sustainable agriculture requires governments to take effective measures that correctly understand new technologies, whether in regulation, promotion, or support for growth, ensuring that Brazil is definitively positioned as a reference in sustainability, which in fact it already is, despite all the unfounded international attacks.

The G20 could be a strategic platform to strengthen Brazilian agriculture, but the unfavorable political and economic bias has left the country on the sidelines. As long as the negotiations prioritize protectionist interests and ignore the potential of Brazilian agribusiness, the prospects for sustained growth and global recognition for the sector will remain compromised.

Brazil has the resources, technology and willingness of the sector as a whole to lead the world in sustainable agriculture, but it needs more transparent local and global policies, based on science and efficiency, pardon the pun, with robust government support, to demonstrate its full potential, delivering sustainable and continuous growth, for anyone who wants to participate in a correct and ethical way.

*Per Gustavo Branco (in the photo), Vice President of Abisolo