AgroBIT Brasil 2022 sows innovation in agriculture

With the aim of stimulating innovations and technologies for the rural producer's journey, highlighting success stories, sharing knowledge and promoting networking, the 5th AgroBIT Brasil 2022 exceeded expectations and presented around 8 speakers over two days (November 9 and 50). and various activities for more than 2 thousand participants eager for technological innovations in agriculture.

The event also featured a machinery exhibition area and stands for 31 sponsoring companies, as well as an exclusive space for startups from Smart Farm AgroBIT Mapa Conecta, Rural Producer Award 4.0, Academy for Agribusiness Women, mini courses, AgroBIT Carreira and the AgroValley program of Open Doors, which received visits from students from agricultural schools. AgroBIT Brasil is organized by Sociedade Rural do Paraná, FB Group, Sebrae and AgroValley.

During the two days, lectures and panels were held, highlighting the strengthening of the use of technologies from planting to commercialization. The two mini-courses on drone operators and the use of technologies in the application of pesticides had great demand for technicians, agronomists and rural producers, filling up all vacancies in advance.

For the CEO of FB Group, Daiana Bisognin, the 5th edition of AgroBIT was one of the most complete, exceeding expectations and becoming, every year, a meeting point and reference to discuss innovation solutions and challenges for the agribusiness production chain . “Only through innovation will producers be able to make leaps in productivity and reduce costs, maintaining the competitiveness of Brazilian agribusiness”, says Daiana.

Female participation is another favorable aspect in the CEO’s opinion. The event highlighted the role of women in agriculture, considering that the female public plays a relevant role in contributing to the sector.

The last day was marked by the massive participation of women farmers from various regions of the country in lectures given at the Women's Academy. An exclusively female panel, with two journalists and an influencer, debated the “Challenges for Agro communication”.

In the opinion of journalist Vera Ondei, from Forbes Brasil, agriculture has a giant mission in communication, which is to change the perception that urban society has of the countryside. “You can only change perceptions by showing stories, showing what is being done correctly.”

For journalist Flávia Romanelli, the main challenge in agriculture is being able to talk to the external public. “It is necessary to have more institutional communication, which also reaches the consumer at the end of the chain, and not just the rural producer.

The Women's Academy, launched this year, fulfilled its objectives, holding several lectures, from family succession to crop management and marketing.

Carla Sonada, from Sicredi Dexis, was also highlighted by AgroBIT in the program for female audiences, with the lecture “Financial Management in Agribusiness”. Sonada was reinforced by statements from women in agriculture. “We brought Sicredi associates, who presented in their speeches how to act and what are the means to have good financial management inside and outside the gate”, she highlighted.

The lecture “The power of essential marketing in the digital era”, given by Thaciana Reis, closed the AgroBIT Academy for Women in Agriculture program with a flourish. “Until we reconnect with our true essence, that is, with our spirituality, we will not have impactful solutions”, defended Thaciana, highlighting that first of all it is necessary to realize that Digital Marketing is just one of the several strategies that a company has to disseminate its products and communicate its campaigns. The most important point is to ask yourself whether your target customer will be reached by that action, and whether it will result in sales,” she said.

In conversation with the farmers, FB Group's Marketing and Relationship Manager, Fernanda Anastácio da Silva, discovered that they seek more technical content, focused on productivity and profitability and not just topics on women's empowerment. “The participants showed great interest in topics such as property management, family succession and the use of technologies in the field”, adds Fernanda.

Innovation Ecosystems

One of the panels discussed innovation ecosystems, the challenges of agtechs, sustainability and new forms of governance.

In Brazil, the innovation ecosystem is still a concept under construction and, consequently, has many challenges ahead. The Federation of Industries of Paraná (Fiep-PR), through Senai, contributes to reducing this gap, offering a wide range of professional training courses.

At AgroBIT 2022, Senai showed another aspect, which is support for development, through the case of Ecossistema Iguassu Valley, in the Western Region of Paraná. Iguassu is promoting regional technological diffusion.

The West has a great agricultural vocation, but the governance proposed by the ecosystem is able to target and develop other business trends, such as foodtechs, which are being encouraged in the Toledo region.

Marcelo Fernandes de Azevedo is the Development supervisor of Lucas do Rio Verde, a city in Mato Grosso, which occupies 17th place in the ranking of the Ministry of Agriculture and Supply (Mapa), among the 100 richest municipalities in agribusiness. Azevedo is one of the founders of the Cerrado Innovation Alliance and presented the region's innovation system to AgroBIT 2022 participants.

“Among our next steps will be to sign a pact for innovation in the municipality, involving the private sector, organized society, the entire education axis and public authorities. We are also moving forward with innovation projects for next year, with the creation of an Institute of Science, Technology and Innovation and an innovation hub for agriculture. We want to take this entire process to our Intermunicipal Consortium, involving the entire Lucas do Rio Verde region”, assured Azevedo.

"Sense of achievement. The event was a success with the public, sponsors, exhibitors and the quality of the talks”, defines the director of Innovation at SRP, Renan Salvador, who highlighted the partnership between SRP, FB Group, AgroValley and Sebrae, which provided the 5th edition of the AgroBIT.

“It was fantastic to see new technologies applied in the field. The event brought a showcase of opportunities for producers to use in the field. “The main objective is to provide more and more conditions so that producers can use the best and most innovative technological tools, with the aim of being more productive and more profitable in the field”, emphasizes Salvador.