Empowering Women in Agribusiness

Kátia Fenner is a fourth-generation farmer whose family’s agricultural legacy began with livestock and diversified crops. Today, she focuses on potato production, continuing her father’s transition into crop farming. Her experience reflects resilience and deep rural knowledge, making her a reference in sustainable farming and women’s empowerment in agribusiness 

Rossi Cavalcanti began working in agribusiness at 16 and took over full management after her father’s death in 2017. She now leads operations and prepares the next generation. Her journey reflects women increasingly leading rural businesses with focus on results, resilience, and strategic decision-making despite ongoing cultural resistance in the sector. 

Sônia Aparecida Bonato is a prominent Brazilian rural producer, widely known as the "Ambassador of Agribusiness" (Embaixadora do Agro). She is a leading advocate for female empowerment in the agricultural sector and currently serves as a counselor for Embrapa Territorial (a research and innovation unit focused on land use, agricultural mapping, and territorial intelligence in Brazil)

Rita Gracieli Vazzata De Bortoli is an administrative and financial manager at CAMISC, an agricultural cooperative based in Mariópolis, Paraná, Brazil. She has experience in cooperative management and regional educational initiatives, contributing to organizational efficiency, financial oversight, and the development of agribusiness and community-focused programs in the region. 

 Fabiana Matte Rodrigues is a Brazilian businesswoman and First Lady of Chapecó, Santa Catarina. An entrepreneur linked to Nelore Chapecó, she supports social initiatives promoting women’s entrepreneurship, participates in municipal programs, and represents the city in official events alongside Mayor João Rodrigues, strengthening community and civic engagement. 

This model illustrates how thousands of small and mid-sized farming families can operate within a unified cooperative structure. By sharing resources, governance, and market access, members achieve economies of scale, reduce risks, and enhance competitiveness while preserving local ownership and ensuring long-term sustainability in a demanding global agribusiness environment. 

This topic explores the expanding role of women in agribusiness leadership, from farm operations to executive positions. It highlights how women contribute to strategic decision-making, innovation, and community development, while addressing challenges and showcasing initiatives that foster inclusion, leadership development, and empowerment across the cooperative system. 

The focus is on transforming raw agricultural products into high-value, market-ready goods. Through advanced processing, quality control, and branding strategies, producers increase profitability and competitiveness. This approach ensures alignment with international standards while meeting evolving consumer expectations in both domestic and global markets. 

Sustainability is addressed through environmental stewardship, animal welfare, and efficient resource management. Producers implement best practices to minimize environmental impact while maintaining productivity. Emphasis is placed on long-term resilience through responsible land use, waste reduction, and adoption of sustainable technologies that balance economic and environmental priorities. 

An integrated supply chain ensures efficiency from production to distribution. Coordinated logistics, processing, and quality control systems enable consistent delivery to markets. This structure improves traceability, reduces operational costs, and strengthens competitiveness, offering valuable insights into scalable and efficient agribusiness operations. 

 This topic examines the role of modern technologies such as data analytics, automation, and precision agriculture in improving productivity. Continuous innovation supports better decision-making, operational efficiency, and adaptability to market changes, helping producers remain competitive in an increasingly complex and technology-driven global agribusiness landscape.