A View Into Brazilian Agriculture… Q&A With Lucia Helena Bueno Bortolozzo

By Michelle Pelletier Marshall, Women in Agribusiness Media (May 13, 2025)

A model of inspiration and fierce advocate of empowering women, both in the ag sector and otherwise, Lucia Helena Bueno Bortolozzo has been making a difference in Brazilian agriculture for more than 35 years. 

Among many other responsibilities, she is vice-president of the Agricultural Women’s Committee of the state of Piauí, and also coordinator of the Rural Women's Committee for Sociedade Rural Brasileira (SRB). In this capacity, she advocates for women in agricultural roles, with the aim towards gender parity and advancement in leadership roles, as well as increased communication about the accomplishments of women in ag. Aiding in that communication is her work as an ambassador for A Protagonista with Canal Rural, a media outlet focused on the agribusiness industry in Latin America that provides communication, information and entertainment content related to agriculture and farming. There, as a member of the editorial committee, she helps give visibility to rural women.

A teacher by trade, Bortolozzo came into the sector through the family farming business CANEL (Central Agrícola Nova Era LTDA) in the production, industrialization and commercialization of grains such as soybeans, corn, cotton and eucalyptus in a sustainable and ethical manner. At CANEL, she is in charge of the company’s human resources and social responsibility department.

Bortolozzo’s conviction that “Together we are stronger” continues to inspire other women to take on leadership roles, showing that Brazilian agribusiness is built with courage, innovation and purpose. “It is important to have this strengthening in groups like the Committee, so that we, women, will be increasingly united,” she said in an interview with CARAS Magazine. “Agriculture creates many opportunities for women. And these opportunities are also important for each woman’s personal development. We need to enter sectors like agriculture and make our contribution. That way, the others who come will have no difficulties.”

Her accomplishments in ag, and efforts in uplifting women have commanded attention and include working as a director of ABRH-PI (Brazilian Association of Human Resources of Piauí) and AMNE (Association of Business Women of Piauí), being Cotton Ambassador, creator of the Entre Laços Project and coordinator of the PDLF (Women's Leadership Development Program).

Women in Agribusiness had the delightful opportunity to meet Lucia and work closely with her through our partnership for the 2025 Summit, which in keeping with Lucia’s convictions, helps lift other women as one climbs.

Here’s what WIA Today chatted about with Lucia:

1). You’ve worked 36 years in ag in Brazil… is there a pivotal moment that made you turn your attention to uplifting women in the sector?

I have seen the change in women's participation in agribusiness over the years, but when I started working on the farm, I realized the importance of our contribution as leaders.

I also had a mindset change when I joined the Brazilian Women in Agribusiness Congress (CNMA) in São Paulo for the first time. The experience provided me a different perspective on the role of women in Brazilian agriculture. We are stronger when we are together. I had a chance to meet women who shared stories of life similar to mine. It was a good opportunity to identify our challenges, ways to surpass them, and also find out ways I could contribute.

2). What have been the two most significant changes for women in the ag sector that you’ve seen over the decades?

Over the decades, I think women in agribusiness have been looking to be more connected and I could summarize in two key results:

1). Last year, research done by CEPEA (Center for Advanced Studies in Applied Economics) and CNA (National Agriculture Confederation) showed that around 11 million women are working in agribusiness sectors.

As farmers, as IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics) data, we are managing 30 million hectares (around 74.131.540 acres) in Brazil.

It is a way to show the importance and the increase of the presence of women in leadership and management positions, and also their contribution in the technological, innovation and sustainability sectors.

2). Women often search for training and investing in education. This knowledge aligned with dedication make for success in the sector. Additionally, the increase of credit lines to women farmers has boosted the empowerment of women to become protagonists in their businesses.

3). Tell us more about your time on the farm, and farming in general in your markets in Brazil.

I have been working for the last 36 years side-by-side with my husband and family as a family business, contributing to the growth and development of our region in education, infrastructure, sustainability, and respect for the environment and social issues.

I am proud of Brazilian agriculture for being a highlight in the economy and supplying the domestic and foreign markets, ensuring food security.

We have a promising future in terms of productivity, sustainability, technological innovation and social responsibility.

4). How has the current state of global trade uncertainty affected your ag business? What adjustments have been made and what do you foresee the future holds for Brazilian ag?

Brazil, like the U.S. and Argentina, are important countries when it comes to food security. Understanding how we can jointly provide food in the medium and long term is important.

At the moment, Brazil is seeking to open new markets globally and strengthen already established partnerships. An important step is the European Union-Mercosur agreement, which was approved but needs to be adjusted to benefit value chains in the various countries involved.

In addition, the current tariff issue is important for Brazil not only in terms of expanding its market share in the Chinese market, but also in seeking negotiations with the United States, where Brazilian products can then be tradable in a competitive manner, as is the case with orange juice and coffee.

5). What are some of the current projects you are working on to help rural women in ag in Brazil?

I have been working and participating in different projects to encourage women to overcome their difficulties and achieve their main objectives.

1. We have the development of regional rural female leadership through state committees with CNA (National Confederation of Agriculture).

2. International missions project (seeking connections and exchanging experiences) of the Rural Women's Committee.

3. We have been working close with Mulheres do Agronegócio Brasil that also designed the Agro Scarves project, which collects women's scarves for women with cancer.

4. Women of Fiber Movement - We seek to connect rural women with women from the city. Recently, we have launched a book that collects women in cotton stories.

5. Women's cooperative project (Love in Cotton) to increase family income and self-esteem.

6. A protagonista – It is a Canal Rural (TV channel) for which I am an ambassador. The main idea is to show rural women’s stories and highlight interviews of women who are protagonists in their businesses to inspire other women.

7. Entre Laços Project – We are developing female entrepreneurship for women in socially vulnerable situations.
   

6). Sociedade Rural Brasileira (SRB) is now in its third year as a partner for the annual Women in Agribusiness Summit. How is this connection and collaboration important to agriculture in Brazil and your mission to provide pathways for women in the sector?

It is an important partnership for us – as we can support women and agribusiness across countries. 

For women, it is about exchanging experiences, making new connections and networking. It also can be an opportunity to engage in new business and improve knowledge about U.S. markets.  

Our objective is to provide women and youth in Brazilian agribusiness a chance at a culture exchange, and sharing of economic, technological and innovative agricultural practices.

I believe that through women we can assertively communicate our beneficial agricultural practices.

WIA is doing excellent work in organizing such an event with great content and the opportunity to collaborate and support the growth and development of women in both countries.

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WIA attendees can learn more about Brazilian agriculture and Sociedade Rural Brasileira (SRB), as representatives, including Lucia, will be on-hand at a booth at the 14th annual Women in Agribusiness Summit, this fall in Orlando, Florida, September 22-24.