Food Security and Sustainability will be the major global agenda after the pandemic, says Roberto Rodrigues

Former Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply of Brazil, agronomist Roberto Rodrigues is considered to be one of the greatest agribusiness authorities in the country.

He currently coordinates the Agribusiness Center of the Getúlio Vargas Foundation (FGV), one of the main Brazilian research centers. Special FAO Ambassador for Cooperatives, Roberto Rodrigues has hundreds of published works on agriculture, cooperativism and rural economy. He is also the author of ten books and co-author of several others.

All this expertise will enrich the dialogues in the Brazil Africa Forum 2020. Roberto Rodrigues aims to discuss the agricultural perspectives towards the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Food Security and Sustainability are among the themes that will dominate the world’s agenda in the years to come after the pandemic”, states.

“Both themes go through farming and agribusiness activities, especially in tropical countries, which have the potential to produce quality food without destroying natural resources. African countries have savannas with characteristics very similar to those of the Brazilian cerrado, so successfully occupied. How to replicate this success in Africa will be an exciting theme for the Brazil Africa Forum ”.

Agricultural potential

Agribusiness is the most relevant sector of the Brazilian economy, being responsible for 22% of the GDP and for guaranteeing the country’s trade surplus. In turn, Africa has enormous potential for the development of the sector. The continent has 65% of the world’s uncultivated arable land, an abundance of freshwater and about 300 days of sunshine a year. In addition, more than 60% of Africa’s working population is involved in agriculture.