The Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, André de Paula, met, this Monday (15), via videoconference, with the 39 agricultural attachés who represent Brazil abroad. The meeting aimed to discuss opportunities and challenges for Brazilian agribusiness, as well as topics related to the opening and maintenance of markets, international negotiations and the country's role in multilateral organizations. On the occasion, Minister André de Paula highlighted the strategic role played by the agricultural attachés in expanding the international presence of Brazilian agriculture and in strengthening the sector's trade relations. "I hear, very frequently, both praise for the performance of each of you and reports on the importance of the work you perform in the countries where you work." The agricultural attachés are civil servants of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa) who work in Brazilian diplomatic representations abroad, providing technical advice on issues related to agribusiness. Among its responsibilities are supporting the opening and expansion of markets, identifying commercial opportunities, monitoring sanitary and regulatory requirements, and strengthening Brazil's image with international partners. The network's work has directly contributed to significant results for Brazilian agribusiness. Since 2023, 639 market openings and more than 250 expansions of access for Brazilian agricultural products in different international destinations have been recorded. During the meeting, the attachés presented an overview of the markets, regions, and international organizations in which they operate. The agricultural attaché in Washington, Ana Lúcia Viana, highlighted the strategic importance of the United States, Canada, and Mexico for Brazilian agricultural trade. According to her, the three countries form a highly integrated market, relevant from both a commercial, sanitary, and regulatory point of view. "Together, they represent one of the main destinations for Brazilian agribusiness exports," Ana Lúcia emphasized. COOPERATION AND INSTITUTIONAL STRENGTHENING In addition to working with foreign governments, part of the network of attachés works in multilateral organizations that are strategic for Brazil. This is the case of the representative of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA) to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Switzerland, Andrea Moura, who monitors issues related to international agricultural trade. The meeting also highlighted the importance of Brazil's coordinated action in international organizations, in addition to the WTO, such as the World Organisation for Animal Health (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV), the International Coffee Organization (ICO), and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), as well as dialogue with the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Continuous monitoring of these forums contributes to the early identification of measures that may impact the international trade of agricultural products and strengthens Brazilian participation in global debates related to agriculture, food security, and sanitary standards. The agricultural attaché in Egypt, Rafael Mohana, highlighted that Brazil is recognized in the African continent not only as a reliable food supplier, but also as a partner for agricultural development. “We have a trajectory that directly addresses African challenges: tropical agriculture, production in savannah regions, soil recovery and correction, agricultural defense, public research, cooperativism, family farming, integration between efficiency and production, and a recognized experience in increasing productivity with sustainability,” reported the agricultural attaché. Rafael also emphasized the relevance of Egypt as a trading partner for products such as meat, cereals, sugar, dairy products, coffee, and agricultural inputs. During the meeting, participants also emphasized the role of the Secretariat of Trade and International Relations (SCRI) in coordinating the network of agricultural attachés. The Secretariat acts as a link between the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MRE), the productive sector, and international partners, promoting institutional alignment and technical support for activities developed abroad. The agricultural attaché in Beijing, Leandro Feijó, highlighted the support provided by the Secretariat for the development of the network's activities and for achieving results in strategic markets. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs' recognition of the work of agricultural attachés was also emphasized, noting that their presence in Brazilian embassies contributes to expanding the capacity for dialogue with foreign authorities and strengthening the country's agricultural diplomacy. At the end of the meeting, the acting secretary of the SCRI, Augusto Billi, stressed the strategic relevance of the network of agricultural attachés for defending Brazilian interests abroad. According to him, the technical and ongoing work of these professionals strengthens trust among international partners, expands opportunities for Brazilian agribusiness, and contributes to improving the quality of negotiations conducted by the country in key international markets.
This text was translated by machine from Brazilian Portuguese.