Innovation guides discussions at the Opening of the 2026 Rice Harvest.

In its 36th edition, the Official Opening of the Rice and Grain Harvest in Lowlands will feature technical activities and knowledge exchange, from February 24th to 26th, at the Embrapa Clima Temperado Lowlands Experimental Station, in Capão do Leão (RS). This year, the event will change its traditional format, with an institutional opening on the first day and the symbolic act of harvesting the Breno Prates crop at the closing, on the third day.  

With the aim of reinforcing the rice sector's commitment to critically analyzing the current scenario and building alternatives for the future of the activity, the Federation of Rice Growers Associations of Rio Grande do Sul (Federarroz), organizer of the event, is organizing a series of debates that will be held in the Frederico Costa Auditorium and will bring together leaders, experts and representatives from different links in the production chain, focusing on market, income, economy, innovation, cooperativism and competitiveness.

Among the central themes is the connection between the field and the market, with analyses of the current production context, the prospects for rice farmers, and the role of institutions in building sustainable strategies. The program also includes relevant institutional events for the sector, such as the "Pá do Arroz" tribute and the meeting of the Rice Sector Chamber, strengthening the dialogue between producers, entities, and public authorities.

Income diversification emerges as one of the strategic axes of the debates, with panels dedicated to productive and energy alternatives that can complement rice farming. The aim is to present experiences and models capable of increasing the economic resilience of farms, especially in a scenario of recurring challenges.

Another highlight of the program is the in-depth discussion of finance, economics, and management. Business case studies and macroeconomic analyses will be presented, along with reflections on the impacts of tax reform on the rice production chain, a topic considered crucial for the sector's planning and competitiveness in the coming years.

The exchange of international experiences and the promotion of innovation are also part of the event's content, with approaches to research, development of new varieties, and sensory analysis of rice, broadening producers' vision on global trends and opportunities for differentiation.

Cooperativism and the insertion of rice from Rio Grande do Sul into the international market are highlighted in panels that present successful export experiences, reinforcing the role of cooperatives as agents of organization, scale, and access to new markets. The program is completed with reflections on the challenges and perspectives of Brazilian agribusiness, contextualizing the rice chain within the national scenario.

The president of Federarroz, Denis Dias Nunes, points out that the lectures and panels that the organization has put together for this edition of the Harvest Opening reaffirm the entity's commitment to the future of the sector. "Each theme was chosen to offer producers what truly makes a difference: qualified training, in-depth analysis, and concrete paths to face an increasingly challenging scenario," he states.

According to Nunes, these debates bring the field closer to the market, strengthen the relationship between research and production, and expand the decision-making capacity of those working in agriculture. “By bringing together leaders, experts, and institutions that shape Brazilian agriculture, we create an environment for dialogue that inspires, guides, and projects rice from Rio Grande do Sul to a new level of competitiveness. The lectures and panels are not just part of the program; they are a strategic instrument to prepare the sector, align visions, and build solutions together that will guarantee the sustainability and growth of our production chain in the coming years,” adds the leader.

In addition to the programming at the Frederico Costa Auditorium, the Harvest Opening will feature an Innovation Arena, where topics such as innovation in the field, female leadership in agribusiness, and a series of lectures focusing on livestock farming will be discussed. The event also includes programming from the host organization, Embrapa, with panels at its booth.

The 36th Official Opening of the Rice and Grain Harvest in Lowlands has as its theme "Current scenario and perspectives: connecting field and market".