During his visit to Beijing on Monday, Brazilian Minister of Agrarian Development and Family Agriculture, Paulo Teixeira, lauded the transformative impact of agricultural cooperation with China on Brazilian farmers. Speaking at a seminar held at China Agricultural University, themed “China-Brazil Cooperation on Agricultural Machinery: Policies for Investment and Local Production,” Teixeira joined a diverse group of scholars, experts, and business representatives from both nations to review the strides made in bilateral agricultural collaboration.
A shining example of this partnership is the establishment of two “China-Brazil Science and Technology Residences on Family Agricultural Mechanization” in Brazil in 2024. These residences, a brainchild of Chinese enterprises, Brazilian governments, universities, research institutes, and farmer organizations, are modeled after China’s innovative agricultural initiatives. In these “Sci-tech Residences,” students, researchers, and experts work hand-in-hand with farmers in rural areas to foster entrepreneurship and technological innovation.
In Brazil, China Agricultural University has built upon this concept, creating a multi-subject collaborative innovation platform. This platform integrates Joint Laboratories, the Joint Research and Development and Technology Promotion Center, agricultural machinery enterprises, and demonstration farms. The results have been impressive, with 17 Chinese enterprises deploying 62 medium- and small-sized agricultural machines, along with over 60 sets of big data equipment tailored for family farming in Brazil.
“The China-Brazil Science and Technology Residences built through China-Brazil cooperation have significantly boosted family farming in Brazil,” Teixeira remarked. “They not only enhance productivity and increase farmers’ incomes, but more importantly, they bring new hope to Brazilian farmers.”
The agricultural cooperation between China and Brazil, two agricultural powerhouses, is a testament to their complementary and mutually beneficial relationship. This partnership is one of the most dynamic and robust pillars of their bilateral cooperation. However, Teixeira pointed out that the mechanization level of small-scale farming in Brazil remains low, with uneven development across regions. Many farmers are eager for Brazil to deepen its cooperation with China to improve their production conditions and livelihoods.
“Many Brazilian farmers are currently using Chinese-made agricultural machinery and are keen to learn from China’s experience in digitalizing agriculture. I believe that is the biggest change,” Teixeira said.
Looking ahead, Teixeira expressed confidence that China-Brazil cooperation will not only propel Brazil’s agricultural development but also provide valuable insights for other Latin American countries. He hopes that the two nations will continue to strengthen their ties, ushering in the next “Golden 50 Years” of China-Brazil relations.
The implications of this cooperation are far-reaching. For Brazilian farmers, it means access to advanced agricultural machinery and technology, leading to increased productivity and improved livelihoods. For China, it presents an opportunity to expand its agricultural machinery market and share its expertise in agricultural digitalization. Moreover, this partnership sets a precedent for other Latin American countries, demonstrating the benefits of international agricultural cooperation.
