Record exports reveal challenges in agricultural inspection

Brazil closed 2024 with historic export records, reaffirming the country's relevance as one of the world's leading food suppliers. Products such as sugar, coffee, cotton, meat, cellulose and orange juice boosted the trade balance, while items such as lemons, chocolate and ginger expanded the diversification of the export agenda. Despite the optimism for 2025, with the projection of a promising harvest and the opening of new markets, a serious obstacle threatens the sustainable growth of the sector: the lack of investment in the career of federal agricultural tax auditors.

According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa), agribusiness accounted for 49% of the country's total exports. With regard to beef alone, which is inspected by federal agricultural inspectors throughout the production chain, even before slaughter until it is loaded onto ships, almost 2,8 million tons were shipped to 157 countries, including those in the European Union, China, the United States, Mexico and the United Arab Emirates.

The outlook for 2025 is even more promising, as new markets are expected to open, in addition to the 300 opened in the last two years. Japan, Vietnam, South Korea and Turkey are on the list of countries to be negotiated to receive Brazilian products. Thus, the demand for federal agricultural tax auditors is expected to grow even more. All this in a scenario of alarming deficit.

According to the National Union of Federal Agricultural Auditors (Anffa Sindical), it is estimated that 1.200 professionals are about to retire due to age or length of service and may leave their positions at any time. However, the public selection process held last year is expected to fill only 200 positions – an insufficient number in view of the growing demand for Brazilian products.

The inspection and monitoring activities carried out by the career are essential to ensure that exported food meets strict international standards, enabling the development of the sector and ensuring that pests do not put national production at risk. In addition, there is an entire protocol that guarantees the safety of food consumed in Brazil and by its trading partners.

According to the president of Anffa Sindical, Janus Pablo Macedo, while the government celebrates advances in exports and trade promotion, the demand for federal agricultural tax auditors is increasing. In addition to the shortage of personnel, there are deficiencies in systems, and there is a lack of resources for infrastructure, security and modernization of inspection operations, compromising Brazil's competitiveness and credibility in the international market.

“Strengthening agribusiness cannot do without adequate investments in inspection and quality control. Without this, Brazil runs the risk of compromising its strategic role in global supply, precisely at a time when it is emerging as a leader in the supply of food and inputs to the world. Anffa Sindical reinforces the urgent need for public policies that prioritize strengthening the careers of federal agricultural tax auditors and increasing the number of employees, thus ensuring that the records achieved by agribusiness are sustainable and long-lasting,” Macedo highlighted.