My Journey From the Field to Farmers Advocacy

Why Agriculture?

Growing up in a Dutch community in Brazil, formed by Dutch producers who emigrated after World War II, agriculture was not just a livelihood but a way of life. My father, an agronomist for the Holambra Agro-Industrial Cooperative, was a profound influence. He introduced innovative irrigation technologies like the center pivot system to combat dry spells that devastated crops. His passion for sustainable farming practices and his untimely death when I was just eleven left a lasting imprint on me. Motivated by his legacy, I pursued agronomy at university, driven by a love for biological sciences and a desire to continue his work in sustainable agriculture.  But it was only after getting married and pursuing a master's degree, that life led me to public management and representation of rural producers, which is where I found my calling.

Advocating for Farmers

For fifteen years, I served as the Executive Director of an association of irrigators, where I worked closely with farmers to represent their interests at federal and state levels. My role involved navigating complex regulations on water use in agriculture and advocating for irrigation's critical role in food production. 

Living and working on a farm my entire life, both as a child and now as an adult, has equipped me with a profound understanding of the farmer's daily challenges and needs. From the unpredictability of weather to the complexities of crop pricing and the intricacies of harvest timings, these experiences are ingrained in my daily life.  Representing their interests isn't just a professional role; it's a personal commitment to ensure that their voices are heard and their concerns addressed in the broader dialogue about agriculture policy and practice. Being the link between research, government, and rural producers has given me purpose, this is what I have done passionately for over a decade and continue to do.

Working on the Family Farm

Alongside my work in advocacy for farmers, I am also helping my husband at our family farm. The farm, nestled in the southeast of São Paulo state, spans five hundred hectares, with an additional one thousand five hundred hectares of leased land. We cultivate a diverse array of crops, including: beans, soybeans, corn, wheat, sorghum, and now peanuts, with seventy percent of our area under irrigation. Adopting both central pivots and cutting-edge subsurface drip irrigation systems from Netafim, we've been able to significantly enhance our crop yields through innovative watering techniques that ensure sustainability and efficiency.

The Netafim Connection

Our partnership with Netafim began in April 2022 when we decided to expand our irrigated areas to boost productivity and sustainability. We chose Netafim's underground drip systems for fifty hectares, particularly in areas that traditional pivot systems could not reach. This technology has allowed us to optimize water use, crucial for cultivating beans, corn, wheat, and soybeans.

Women in Agriculture? Why not?

I consider work in agriculture as a field where women can and should participate.  The agricultural sector is very promising, as we are the ones who produce food for the world, and the world needs more and more food!

Although it is still seen as a more masculine sector, agriculture is multidisciplinary; it is way more than just taking care of the crops. With globalization, technology, and innovation, we as women, can work throughout the entire agribusiness chain, and there are many opportunities where women fit in very well too. So if you enjoy working in agriculture, go for it for sure!