Brazil strengthens cooperation with African countries at 2nd Brazil-Africa Dialog

Brazil and African countries strengthened ties and exchanged knowledge during the 2nd Brazil-Africa Dialog on Food Security, Hunger Eradication, and Rural Development, held from the 19th to the 22nd of this month. One of the initiative’s events was the Ministerial Dialog, which took place at Itamaraty Palace in Brasília (Federal District) this Thursday (22). The week’s agenda also included technical visits to agricultural production areas of interest to the African delegations.

During the Ministerial Dialog, the Brazilian Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Carlos Fávaro, participated in the first panel, “Sustainable and Climate-Resilient Agrifood Systems and the Importance of Family Farming – National Experiences.” In his remarks, he highlighted the development of Brazilian agriculture and livestock farming, driven by the creation and dissemination of technologies adapted to the country’s diverse biomes, which has led to significant advances in the sector’s productivity, sustainability, and competitiveness.

“It is important to remember that, 50 years ago, Brazil was a food importer, as is still the case in many countries. The first major step toward transforming that reality was the challenge of creating a public agricultural research company – EMBRAPA. This made it possible for Brazil, through genetic improvement of animals and seeds, along with appropriate production practices, to develop a robust, sustainable, and highly productive agricultural sector,” said the minister.

Fávaro also emphasized the climatic similarities between Brazil and much of the African continent, highlighting the potential for replicating technologies developed in Brazil in the African context. “It is worth remembering that 100% of the grass varieties that support our livestock feed are of African origin. Today, with the genetic improvement of that grass and of our cattle, we want to return this enhanced knowledge so that you do not have to spend 50 years on research. Thanks to the climate and soil similarities we share, it is possible to carry out a direct and adapted technology transfer,” he noted.

ACCESS TO CREDIT — Brazil's Minister of Agrarian Development and Family Farming, Paulo Teixeira, emphasized the need for access to credit to support agricultural growth, citing the Brazilian model as a reference. “We have a robust banking finance system, the Plano Safra (Harvest Plan), which covers everything from production costs to mechanization, technological modernization, and the strengthening of cooperatives. In addition, it is essential to ensure technical assistance and invest in the development of technologies, such as those produced by Embrapa, to ensure increasingly sustainable agricultural production,” he stated.

PETROLINA — Fifty years ago, Brazil’s semi-arid region was seen as land doomed to drought. Today, however, it is a global reference in fruit production and in the development of solutions for living with water scarcity. This example was showcased to African leaders in Petrolina (Pernambuco) during the 2nd Brazil-Africa Dialog. The program included the participation of Brazilian ministers and representatives from several African countries, who visited centers of excellence such as EMBRAPA Semiárido, the Nunes & Cia fruit production unit, and CODEVASF's fish farming projects. 

Minister Waldez Góes (Integration and Regional Development) highlighted President Lula’s leadership in promoting international cooperation focused on inclusion and reducing inequalities, especially with countries in Africa and South America. “This is a historic issue for us. This relationship of cooperation with African countries is part of our life’s journey,” he said. He noted that the exchange of experiences and technologies in areas such as water security, family farming, fish farming, and fruit production is essential to combating hunger and poverty. “Brazil has much to share, especially with regions facing challenges similar to those of our semi-arid region,” he emphasized.

The field visit was divided into three parts: the Water Trail at EMBRAPA Semiárido; the Nunes & Cia Fruit Production Unit; and the Fish Farming Unit of the São Francisco and Parnaíba Valleys Development Company (CODEVASF). Institutional presentations were also delivered by EMBRAPA, CODEVASF, and Banco do Nordeste.

“EMBRAPA Semiárido is celebrating 50 years this week. Fifty years ago, no one believed we could live with drought. It was a problem, an obstacle to economic and social development here. But with science and technology, we have been able to show that this region could become a production hub and even an exporter of fruit to the whole world,” declared EMBRAPA’s president, Silvia Massruhá.

FOOD SUPPLY — On Tuesday (20), the African delegations visited the CONAB Storage Unit to learn about the institution’s main actions in food supply and strategic points for the agricultural sector. On that occasion, the Deputy Executive Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA), Cleber Soares, stressed that Brazil has much to contribute to the agricultural development of African countries.

“The Brazil-Africa relationship is a two-way street. Brazil has also opened new markets, many of which are for African countries, such as market openings in Namibia, South Africa, and Angola. Today, we export a large volume of fruit. We have conquered new markets and helped reduce food prices in those countries,” noted Cleber Soares.

During the visit, CONAB President Edegar Pretto emphasized that strengthening the company allows for greater cooperation among countries. “What we are offering here to the 44 countries that joined us this morning is that we want to cooperate, teach, and learn. For us, it is also an experience because it reminds us of what we have built so far. When we generously cooperate, we open agricultural markets,” he stressed.

The Minister of Agriculture and Forests of Angola, Isaac dos Anjos, highlighted the expansion of his country’s partnership with the Brazilian government. “In just over six months, Minister Carlos Fávaro has already visited Angola twice. We have extended cooperation, and with Brazil, we also have another component, which is industrial development. What Brazil has already achieved in terms of industrial development, we have not only bought that technology but continue to be open to Brazilian investments in Angola,” said Isaac dos Anjos.

MAPA has seven agricultural attaché posts on the African continent: South Africa, Angola, Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Morocco, and Nigeria, which are essential for agricultural development and rapprochement between the two countries.

On the same day, the delegations visited the AgroBrasília Fair, with visits to EMBRAPA booths and presentations by regional cooperatives. On Wednesday (21), field visits took place at EMBRAPA Semiárido and the Nunes & Cia Fruit Production Unit in Petrolina (Pernambuco).

INITIATIVE — The 2nd Brazil-Africa Dialog on Food Security, Hunger Eradication, and Rural Development reflects the commitment of Brazilian foreign policy to strengthen ties with African countries based on solidarity, mutual respect, and cooperation for sustainable development.

The main topics discussed were: agricultural and aquaculture production, effective public policies, technological innovation, valuing family farming, sustainability, financing and investments, as well as the presentation of the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty.

The initiative included representatives from 44 African countries: South Africa, Angola, Algeria, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cape Verde, Congo-Brazzaville, Ivory Coast, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Eswatini, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Libya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Kenya, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Seychelles, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

International institutions such as the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), the African Development Bank (AfDB), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the World Food Program (WFP) also participated.