The first edition of YAMI - Youth Agribusiness Movement International exceeded the organization's expectations. The Congress, held on October 8th and 9th, at the Transamerica Expo Center in São Paulo, welcomed 300 congressmen who debated the role and mission of the new generation in the sector. The event took place simultaneously with the 4th CNMA – National Congress of Agribusiness Women.
Aged between 18 and 30 years old, participants followed presentations by academics, businesspeople and professionals with guidance on the challenges and transformations of agribusiness in the coming years. In total, six lectures and five round tables were promoted, accounting for more than 17 hours of content, which covered topics such as: sustainability, technology, new agribusiness practices, succession, urban agriculture, trends and opportunities. The event also featured an exhibition area for leading companies and startups.
“Many of the young people present at YAMI have a mission to continue their family’s legacy. Others are now entering the sector, but all with a current vision, bringing new ideas and ways of working. It was a real shot in the arm in this thriving sector. This is what agriculture needs to continue standing out in Brazil and the world”, highlights Renata Camargo, show manager of the event.
The event was led by Guto Quirós, co-founder of Quirós Gourmet, who started the plenary sessions by highlighting the young man's participation and the importance of YAMI's professional and knowledge exchange. “The congress gives young people contact with topics of great relevance for the formation of a solid career within agribusiness”, he states.
The director of the Transamerica Expo Center, Alexandre Marcilio, believes that the growth and appreciation of the new generation have a lot to add to the development of the sector. “Young people must increasingly become the main protagonists of rural businesses, as they arrive with renewed energy, great ideas and open to learning and growing professionally. During these two days, we promoted debates in this space focused on helping young people in this challenging journey that is professional life”, he emphasizes.
A recurring theme of YAMI, technological transformation is already a reality in Brazilian agribusiness. Currently, it is estimated that Brazil has more than 800 small companies dedicated to offering technology and financial solutions to agriculture. According to data from universities, research centers and the Ministry of Agriculture, around 70% of them are in the Southeast of the country. Most are dedicated to information technology, farm management systems, marketplace and sales platforms, biotechnology, food and fertilizers, focusing on bringing tools to the field that help resolve bottlenecks in the sector.
“This movement also attracts new professionals to the sector, such as young people, who see startups as an opportunity to apply technologies developed at universities in the field”, added Renata Camargo.
The topic was also discussed at the round table “From Startups to Starwinners”. “Agribusiness, in itself, is an activity that is based on intuition and experience, two factors that are normally closely linked to age and is an issue that often bars young people from entering the business”, highlighted the CEO of Aegro, Pedro Dusso.
For Dusso, YAMI gave young people the opportunity to interact with technology and its application in the field. “It was possible to offer this new generation arguments for entering the sector and also for applying these innovations on farms, with real and successful examples”.
Encouraging reflection on the importance of young people in agribusiness, YAMI also encompassed topics such as sustainability. The presence of Mariana Calêncio, Brazilian ambassador of the Thought For Food (TFF) program for São Paulo, led congressmen to a debate on the role of young people in the development of a more conscious, sustainable and responsible global agriculture.
“We are exactly at the moment to increasingly empower young people. Congress comes to give more strength to the revolution that we have to make in Brazil and around the world”, explained Mariana.
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