Exclusive Interview with Brazil’s Minister of Agriculture and a Member of Congress: The New Government Will Undertake Bold Reforms in the Agricultural Sector and Strengthen Ties with China Going Forward.

Release Date:

2019-05-27

Brazilian Agriculture Minister Tereza Cristina (center) visited the China International Food and Beverage Exhibition in Shanghai. Last week, AgroPages, the global agrochemical network, was invited to interview Brazilian Agriculture Minister Tereza Cristina, Luiz Hiloshi Nishimori, a member of the Brazilian Congress and the drafter of Brazil’s new pesticide regulations, as well as Jones Yasuda, CEO of CCAB Agro, a leading Brazilian agrochemical company, who accompanied them. Upon learning of the Brazilian minister’s visit to China…

Brazilian Minister of Agriculture, Ms. Tereza Cristina (center), visits the China International Food and Beverage Exhibition in Shanghai.

Last week, AgroPages World Agrochemical Network was invited to interview Brazil’s Minister of Agriculture, Ms. Tereza Cristina, Mr. Luiz Hiloshi Nishimori, the drafter of Brazil’s new pesticide regulatory framework and a member of the Brazilian Congress, and Mr. Jones Yasuda, CEO of CCAB Agro, a leading Brazilian agrochemical company, at the China International Food & Beverage Exhibition (CIFE) held in Shanghai. Upon learning of the Brazilian minister’s visit to China, reporters learned that Ms. Cristina’s primary objectives were to promote Brazil— an important global supplier of agricultural products—and to strengthen Sino‑Brazilian cooperation in the agricultural trade sector. The CIFE drew participation from numerous Brazilian agribusiness and food companies; the minister not only made it the first stop on her China trip but also cut the ribbon at the Brazilian pavilion and personally visited each Brazilian exhibitor, underscoring the high priority she places on Brazil’s agricultural trade.

During the minister’s tightly packed schedule, a reporter from AgroPages, the global agrochemical network, had a brief conversation with her. Ms. Cristina stated that she has long wished to visit China to further strengthen agricultural cooperation between the two countries, adding that this trip is merely the beginning of many future exchanges and interactions. She also noted that the two nations will engage in academic collaboration, with universities from both sides—China Agricultural University and the University of São Paulo—signing a long-term agreement on agricultural cooperation and research.

At the exhibition, the reporter also engaged in an in-depth discussion with Brazilian Congressman Luiz Hiloshi Nishimori. Mr. Nishimori is a Brazilian politician and a federal deputy representing the state of Paraná; he was one of the principal drafters of Brazil’s Law No. 6,299 on pesticides. This law seeks to expedite the registration process for new active ingredients and innovative technologies used in crop protection.

Mr. Nishimori told reporters that Brazil’s current pesticide regulations were enacted 30 years ago and, in light of the sector’s present development, have become outdated and require modernization. At the same time, as a major exporter of agricultural products, Brazil’s farmers need more innovative products and solutions to ensure food quality. Accordingly, the Brazilian government has introduced a new pesticide bill. In June last year, the bill was approved by a special committee chaired by Tereza Cristina. Thanks to constructive dialogue between lawmakers and the President, the legislation is now ready to be submitted to the Chamber of Deputies; following its passage there, it will move to the Senate and, once signed into law by the President, will officially take effect. Mr. Nishimori is highly confident that the bill will be formally adopted and come into force within this year. With the new law in place, the longstanding issue of lengthy pesticide‑registration procedures in Brazil is expected to improve significantly.

Mr. Nishimori stated that Brazil’s new president, Jair Bolsonaro, is strongly pro‑agriculture and places great importance on environmental issues. He believes that, with the joint efforts of the Minister of Agriculture and the president, Brazil will introduce several new agricultural policies in the coming period, all of which will contribute to the further development of the country’s agricultural sector.

In addition, the reporter discussed with Mr. Nishimori the Brazilian regulatory authorities’ approval of additional biological products. Data show that in 2018, Brazil set a record by approving the registration of 450 pesticide products, including more than 50 biologicals. Mr. Nishimori told the reporter that in Brazil, biopesticides are authorized for use in organic farming, which provides significant support to farmers and has gained widespread acceptance in integrated pest management. Given the large number of minor‑crop varieties in Brazil—crops that, unlike major staples such as soybeans, have far fewer crop‑protection options and less comprehensive regulatory frameworks—these minor crops are nonetheless crucial to Brazilian agriculture. Consequently, there is a pressing need to bring more biological products to market to safeguard the interests of these farmers.

Finally, Mr. Nishimori stated that China is Brazil’s most important customer for agricultural products, while Brazil, in turn, is a key market for China’s crop protection products. He added that the governments of both countries should strengthen cooperation and exchanges in the agricultural and agrochemical sectors going forward, jointly fostering the sound development of the entire industry.

AgroPages World Agrochemical Network reporter interviews Brazilian Congressman Mr. Luiz Hiloshi Nishimori (right) and CCAB Agro CEO Mr. Jones Yasuda (center).

During the interview, AgroPages’ reporter also spoke with Mr. Jones Yasuda, CEO of CCAB, a renowned Brazilian agrochemical company that accompanied the Minister of Agriculture on his visit to China. CCAB is a leading domestic agrochemical firm in Brazil; since partnering with France’s Invivo Group in 2017, it has experienced rapid growth over the past two years and now aims to expand its operations nationwide, broadening its portfolio beyond cotton, soybeans, and corn to include additional key crops. However, when asked whether the company has encountered challenges amid this rapid expansion, Mr. Yasuda responded without hesitation: “Under the impact of China’s environmental regulations and factory shutdowns, insufficient product supply has become the most pressing issue facing all Brazilian companies today—though he expressed no objection to the Chinese government’s policy decisions.” Furthermore, both environmental concerns and the recent explosions at chemical industrial parks that led to plant closures have created significant difficulties for companies already registered in Brazil. If a manufacturing facility relocates, previously granted registrations may become invalid, resulting in substantial losses. CCAB Agro is currently engaging with relevant government authorities to explore the possibility of introducing policies that would grant a one- to two-year grace period for such registrations, providing companies with additional time to address these issues.

Mr. Yasuda told reporters that the Chinese market is changing very rapidly, and he visits China three to four times a year precisely to gain a deeper and quicker understanding of the shifts taking place. This insight is crucial for adjusting the company’s development strategy going forward. In early July this year, Mr. Yasuda will return to China to attend an event hosted by AgroPages, the global agrochemical network. 2019 China International Agrochemical Market Development and Exchange Conference ( 2019 CPEW) and delivered a keynote address, outlining the evolving end‑user demand in the Brazilian market and sharing operational insights from agricultural cooperatives.

Reported and compiled by Xie Xuefeng, AgroPages World Agrochemical Network.

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