Sustainability is the difference between the winners of the Women of Agro Award 2022

Focus on sustainability and investment in research and innovation in the field were the distinguishing features of producer Helga Paiva, winner of the fifth edition of the Mulheres do Agro Award, in the Large Property category. In managing the Terra Nova Farm, in Ibiá, Minas Gerais (MG), the farmer allocates more than 5.000 hectares for soybeans, corn, seed production and cattle farming, with the intensification of sustainable agronomic practices and the sequestration of carbon in the soil. The award, created by Bayer in partnership with the Brazilian Agribusiness Association (Abag), took place during the second day of the 7th National Congress of Agribusiness Women (CNMA) and recognized, in total, nine rural producers in the categories: small, medium and large property.

Founder of the farm, together with her brother, Helga seeks to improve its production, through tests and different management practices in the field, such as the use of crop rotation, cover planting and precision agriculture. “I am always studying to improve our production efficiency and optimize the property’s natural resources. On the farm, we provide areas for the development of research to contribute to more sustainable agriculture, through partnerships with private institutions, both multinationals and regional companies, in addition to Embrapa and universities,” she says.

With innovation linked to sustainability in the field, Helga adopted a system for generating its own photovoltaic solar energy and started using a method to collect and reuse rainwater. Furthermore, the producer also participates in the PRO Carbono program, a Bayer initiative aimed at farmers willing to expand their productive potential and increase carbon sequestration in the soil, through the intensification of sustainable agronomic practices.

First place in the medium property category also came from Minas Gerais. Coffee grower Mariana Heitor, like Helga, considers sustainability and the use of technologies to be the main pillars in her production to boost the productivity and quality of her product. At the head of Fazenda Reserva Heitor, the producer produces, on average, 6 thousand bags of coffee per harvest, on 150 hectares. “We stopped using chemical fertilizers and this was one of the main factors that contributed to us being classified as carbon neutral”, says Mariana. Today the fertilizer used by the producer is completely organic, made with its own waste and that of neighbors.

Under Mariana's management, coffee production at Fazenda Reserva Heitor, founded by her parents 28 years ago, is recognized both in Brazil and in other countries: in addition to having renowned clients in the sector such as Starbucks, Nescafé and Nespresso, the producer has already exported for countries such as the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia and Greece. The coffee grower, who lived in São Paulo, moved to Minas Gerais in 2009 to begin the family succession process.

Another difference in Mariana’s management is her concern for the development of her employees. “We have a training consultancy focused on improving leadership skills, belonging and emotional intelligence,” she explains. Furthermore, with the aim of raising awareness among future generations so that they are more concerned about sustainability, the farmer receives 120 children annually for lectures and walks along the trails in the local reserves and plantations.

Sustainable and low-carbon coffee production also came first in the small property category. Juliana Rezende, in charge of Fazenda Santa Bárbara, located in Monte Carmelo, Minas Gerais, since 2015, graduated in pharmacy, but it was in coffee farming that she found her way. One of her biggest challenges when taking over the property was getting to know the cultivation, understanding what type of drink the farm produced and the market demands.

Today, Fazenda Santa Bárbara produces 1.500 bags of coffee per harvest and has a goal of 3 by 2024. The producer says that, with the help of its employees, several projects focused on more sustainable management were created. Among them are River Friends, which aims to use water intelligently, Love Bee, which multiplies the production of native bees, and Árvores Café, to measure the location's carbon footprint.

“Our biggest challenge was finding partners who believed in our projects. We are very concerned not only with applying sustainable practices on our farm, but also in the region as a whole. In addition to the projects already mentioned, we mapped the local fauna with cameras in order to improve the ecosystem of the property's resident and visiting animals”, recalls Juliana.

Record inscriptions

In 2022, the Women of Agro Award completes 5 years with a record number of entries since its first edition, totaling 210 women registered, an increase of 53% compared to 2021. Since it was created in 2018, more than 900 women have already told their stories through the initiative, which recognized the work of 45 farmers and ranchers from various regions of Brazil.

Isabela Fagundes, Corporate Communications Specialist at Bayer in Brazil, says that the importance of the Women of Agriculture Award is in recognizing and amplifying the work led by rural producers. “Five years ago, stories of impact and strength, with a focus on sustainability and innovation, took over rural areas and gave voice to the female role in agriculture. Each entry has an inspiring trajectory that shows how much women make a difference in Brazilian agribusiness”, she reinforces.

For Gislaine Balbinot, executive director of Abag, the award reflects the relevance of the work carried out by rural producers for the growth and positioning of Brazilian agribusiness globally. "For this reason, with each edition we receive a greater number of registered women. They play a relevant role for our sector, which currently has the challenge of contributing strongly to reducing food insecurity in the world. This recognition is a way of honoring each woman who works in the countryside, in agroindustry, in agricultural research and at universities", he highlights.

Meet the winners of the Women of Agro Award 2022

Large property

1st place -- Helga França de Paiva, Ibiá (MG) 

2nd place -- Mariza Stuani de Almeida, Formosa (GO)

3rd place -- Andréia Cervo Stefanello, Campo Novo do Parecis (MT)

Average property

1st place -- Mariana Heitor, Patos de Minas (MG)

2nd place -- Teresa Márcia Morais, Barretos (SP)

3rd place -- Marli Scheifer, Ipiranga (PR)

Small property

1st place -- Juliana Rezende Mello, Monte Carmelo (MG)

2nd place -- Rayssa de Queiroz, João Pessoa (PB)

3rd place -- Christiane Morais, Barretos (SP)