From October 16th to 20th, CNA participated in a mission to Europe, promoted by Apex-Brasil's Brazilian Agribusiness Image and Market Access Program (Pam Agro), to present the sustainability of agriculture and seek business opportunities for the sector on the continent.
The group had programming in Rome, Italy, and Paris, France, where they participated in meetings with the government, the private sector and representatives of local producer associations. Even so, Felipe Spaniol, the coordinator of Commercial Intelligence and Defense of Interests at CNA, made up the delegation and reported how the two countries view Brazilian agriculture, highlighting protectionism in relation to local products and concern for the environment.
“A curious thing is that we know more about European import legislation, the Mercosur/European Union agreement than they do. I realized that there is a focus on their own production process and a lack of information, whether regarding European technical regulations or the reality of the Brazilian market”, he said.
“In Italy, for example, they highly value local production and promote small producers.
In France, NGOs are already exerting more intense action on the image of the future of consumption, which needs rethinking. The power of the consumer and the image of agricultural products is more sensitive. They are much more concerned about this than in Italy, however.
The coordinator highlighted that the focus of the meetings in both countries was precisely to show how sustainable Brazilian agriculture is and that rural producers, mainly affected by climate change, are the most interested in protecting the environment, which is where their income comes from. .
CNA reinforces commitment to sustainability and cooperation in the agricultural sector
“We show that the Forest Code is at the forefront of environmental legislation compared to other countries. So, we have criteria and rigor that are much more developed than the image they try to convey, because in truth, they don’t know the reality of Brazil.”
Felipe Spaniol stated that the mission had two main objectives. The first was to strengthen ties between the Brazilian and European private sectors. The second was to understand the perception of the European consumer in relation to agricultural production. The mission also aimed to analyze the consumption habits of this public.
“It is important that we position ourselves and that what is already done in Brazil can be recognized abroad, in fact. Show our image of sustainability, build relationships and seek opportunities for cooperation. Our work in Brazil can certainly serve as a reference for the world,” he added.
The delegation participated in significant events on their trip. They were at the FAO World Food Forum and World Food Day at the Brazilian Embassy in Rome. Furthermore, they participated in a panel at the Brazilian embassy in Paris. At these events, they discussed crucial topics, such as the relevance of science for future agriculture and the effects of climate change on food production.
Source: datagro
