Mitigating agricultural risks through technology: The Brazilian G&O experience

Brazil's agricultural sector is undergoing a profound transformation driven by technology. The country has become the second-largest destination for agtech investments in Latin America. Its growing network of startups offers solutions across the entire production chain from input purchasing to post-harvest logistics.

Over the past decades, transformative technologies such as lime application, biotechnology, and precision agriculture have reshaped farming practices, especially in the Cerrado region. These innovations have enabled the expansion of double-cropping systems and improved resilience against agronomic risks.

Today, Brazil is entering a new era of smart agriculture, marked by digitalization, automation, and artificial intelligence (AI). Emerging technologies including biological inputs, robotics, blockchain, and big data are helping producers optimize operations and enhance traceability. They are also often cited as ways to reduce environmental impact.

Despite climate variability and market volatility, Brazilian farmers are increasingly adopting tech solutions to boost productivity and manage risks. The country's grain production growth is now driven more by efficiency than land expansion, with record yields in soybeans, corn, and cotton.

This trajectory positions Brazil to play a key role in advancing sustainable, tech-driven agriculture by leveraging its natural advantages with innovation to address global food security and climate challenges.

However, structural challenges including limited access to credit, regional disparities in infrastructure, and labor shortages continue to affect the scalability and inclusiveness of technology adoption and will need to be addressed to ensure broader impact.