The aim of the panel entitled “Risks and opportunities for agribusiness” at the Agrobalsas event “Miracle in the Cerrado” organised by FAPCEN was to raise awareness about sustainable development in agribusiness.

On 14 May, the Round Table on Responsible Soy (RTRS) in Brazil presented the role of certification for sustainable development and explained how the RTRS Standard contributes to the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the first panel of the day.

“The RTRS Production Standard aims to ensure that soy not only meets the highest environmental standards (including zero deforestation and zero conversion), but also a wide range of social and labour requirements. In this sense, RTRS’s contributions to the SDGs are significant thanks to its holistic model,” said Cid Sanches, RTRS’s External Consultant in Brazil. On this point, Sanches referred to the Copenhagen Business School (CBS) report, developed in collaboration with Preferred by Nature, which, among its conclusions, supports the alignment of the RTRS with the SDGs and provides concrete examples.

“Brazilian agribusiness is fully aware of the great opportunities that sustainable development represents for the sector’s growth. In this sense, RTRS certification is a fundamental tool to accompany this process,” said Luiza Bruscato, RTRS Global Executive Director.

Gisela Introvini, Superintendent of FAPCEN, an RTRS member since 2012 and current Vice-president of the roundtable, opened the panel by presenting the Foundation’s work in the Cerrado region, highlighting its positive transformation in recent years.

After the RTRS presentation, Juma Martins, from ACT Commodities, highlighted the growing demand for RTRS soya in the European market and the value that companies place on socio-environmental projects. In this vein, Cristina Delicato, from CAT Sorriso, presented the initiatives implemented by RTRS-certified producers in Piauí, illustrating how this state, along with Maranhão, has established itself as an important food production centre and a key player in preserving the Cerrado.

Joélcio Carvalho, Partnership Officer at the World Food Programme (WFP) Centre of Excellence against Hunger in Brazil, then addressed Brazil’s role in food diversification. Thales Castro, Honorary Consul of Malta, then spoke about the impact of geopolitics on agribusiness, and Maurone Cangussu, a specialist in small-scale agriculture, discussed regenerative livestock farming and the importance of transitioning to a carbon-free production model.