On the 3rd December JBS was represented amongst EU and Brazilian policy and industry experts, including Marcos Galvão, Ambassador of Brazil to the EU, and John Clarke, Director for International Relations at the Director-General Agriculture and Agricultural Development in the European Commission.

This was at an annual seminar hosted by the European Commission for the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brazil) and the Brazilian Mission.

The event comes at the onset of a new EU mandate with a major sustainability focus, to consider the challenges and opportunities of the need to produce more sustainably. Dialogue was focused on connecting Brazil’s local agriculture expects to EU, international policymakers and industry stakeholders in order to foster greater cooperation and exchange of ideas around sustainability in agriculture.

The Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA) also presented on integrated farming systems and the future of sustainable Brazilian agribusiness.

Highlights included:

• In Brazil, agribusiness accounts for 46% of exports and 37% of Brazilian agri-jobs
• The Brazilian Forest Code is one of the most stringent in the world. Sustainable forestry is management is the only economic activity allowed
• Brazil agribusiness is aligned with EU agribusiness, with sustainability criteria and workers’ rights already in place
• An increasing number of farms are adopting integrated farming systems and this number is expected to double by 2030.
• 190+ countries trust Brazilian livestock products

Speaking ahead of the event, Mr. Sergio Segovia, President of Apex-Brasil, said: “Brazil and the EU are likeminded partners on the world stage when it comes to free trade. Integrated and benefiting from global value chains, we are also major agricultural economies and we share a commitment to addressing common challenges and promoting sustainable agriculture practices at the global level. I am delighted that Apex-Brasil can provide a platform for such an important debate”.