Embrapa receives CNA Agro Brasil Award

The president of the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa), Maurício Lopes, received on Monday (11) the CNA Agro Brasil Award, from the Brazilian Confederation of Agriculture and Livestock (CNA). Created last year, the initiative is a tribute to four personalities who stood out in 2017 with actions and initiatives that contributed to the development of Brazilian agriculture.

Lopes received the award in the Research and Development category, for his management marked by the repositioning of the institution in the agricultural sector and the modernization of the Company's work dynamics, in addition to strengthening the partnership with CNA in initiatives such as the Forrageiras para o Semiarid project, developed with the CNA Institute.

The Minister of Labor, Ronaldo Nogueira, was also honored in the 2017 Highlight category; journalist José Roberto Guzzo, from Veja magazine, in the Communication category; and deputy Nilson Leitão (PSDB-MT), president of the Parliamentary Front for Agriculture, in the Politics category.

When speaking at the awards ceremony, the president of CNA, João Martins, stated that the award is a recognition of all those who made their contribution so that agriculture becomes “increasingly competitive, efficient and fulfills its social role”. “Our concern was to seek out those people who contributed to the growth of the country and to solving the sector’s problems”.

When thanking the honor, the president of Embrapa emphasized the importance of the partnership between CNA and Embrapa, which has generated significant results for Brazilian agriculture and agribusiness. “I share this award with my colleagues and with the large network of researchers who help build science and innovation for Brazilian agriculture,” he said.

For Lopes, when an institution like CNA recognizes the importance of science and innovation, “it strengthens our desire to continue contributing to Brazil increasing its capacity to feed the population and be a food provider for the world”.

Remembering that today presents numerous challenges for science and research, such as climate change, sustainability and increasingly competitive and complex markets, Lopes said he is certain that institutions can no longer work in isolation. “Knowledge and relationships are essential to be able to respond to challenges.”

Therefore, there is an urgent need for joint efforts and synergy. “The CNA Agro Brasil Award, which recognizes and celebrates the results of the CNA-Embrapa partnership with an immense network of partners, is an example of the search for knowledge, information, building relationships and networks that will help us continue facing the challenges ”, concluded Lopes.

Other honorees

In the Politics category, deputy Nilson Leitão - who stood out for his firmness and lucidity in defending fundamental themes for agriculture - said: “I share the award with those who defend production, the productive sector, the producer, the one who generates employment and income and, above all, that takes care of the environment and the land. This is the producer. And we, as his representatives, feel honored to represent him and be honored by an award like this.”

The Minister of Labor, Ronaldo Nogueira, received the award in the Highlight category, for leading the work surrounding the approval of the labor reform. “The award is a sign that we are on the right path. We are motivated to continue and move forward with the set of reforms that are important for Brazil's development. And the modernization of labor legislation is good for the worker, the employer and for Brazil. Legal security in work relationships is fundamental. There is no economic development without legal security”, said the minister.

Journalist José Roberto Guzzo, columnist for Veja magazine, was honored in the Communication category for authoring the article “In defense of agriculture: what are we going to eat?”, in which he cited data from Embrapa Satellite Monitoring to show that Brazilian rural producers are those that best preserve the country's environment. Guzzo was unable to attend and was represented at the ceremony by journalist Thiago Bronzatto, from the magazine's Brasília branch, but left a message of thanks to say that the honor “is a strong stimulus to continue the work” and “that it was an honor to be recognized by a sector that plays a fundamental role in the development of Brazil”.