Written by Roberto Araujo, Agronomist, Member of the Scientific Council for Sustainable Agriculture (CCAS), Master in Agribusiness and Postgraduate in Irrigation and Plant Protection Engineering
Sustainability skills, known as green skills, are on the rise in Brazilian agribusiness due to global trends that are changing the labor market and creating job opportunities. This movement is driven by the climate and environmental policy agenda, the quest for competitiveness, and the growing demand from consumers and investors for increasingly sustainable products and practices.
The events of the 29th COP (Baku) and the 19th G20 Summit (Rio de Janeiro) represent another preparatory phase for Brazilian agribusiness towards the 30th COP (Belém, 2025). In this international agenda, the biggest challenge facing Brazilian agriculture is to strengthen itself as a strategic sector that is part of the solutions to global problems exacerbated by climate change and geopolitical issues. With more than half of the national territory covered by native plants and as one of the world’s largest agricultural producers, Brazil is the country with the greatest potential to meet the growing global demand for food, fiber and clean energy, while at the same time contributing to environmental conservation, food security and the energy transition.
Trends that enhance sustainability skills in Brazilian agriculture.
(1) Integrating sustainable practices into business: Agribusinesses are adopting sustainable solutions in response to public policies, such as RenovaBio, the National Biofuels Policy (PNPB), Fuels of the Future, the Carbon Market, the Bioeconomy, and the National Bioinput and Payment Programme. Environmental services and others. These initiatives are linked to international commitments, such as the UN 2030 Agenda, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which are climate commitments made by signatory countries of the Paris Agreement. Stricter regulations, such as the implementation of the Brazilian Forest Code, the fight against deforestation, and the National Solid Waste Policy (PNRS), also contribute. These and other policies and regulations have created an increasing demand for professionals with the skills needed to plan, implement and monitor sustainability strategies with measurable results.
(2) Expanding the renewable energy market: The search for clean and renewable energy alternatives is accelerating in Brazil, with investments in bioenergy, such as green hydrogen, second generation (2G) ethanol, corn ethanol, biodiesel, biogas, biomethane, and biomass. of agricultural waste and other emerging technologies. Reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is a key focus area, increasing demand for renewable energy and project management professionals to decarbonise. Brazil has one of the cleanest energy matrices on the planet, and with its abundance of natural resources and agribusiness experience, it is particularly well placed to continue expanding its renewable energy production, which has received investment since the 1970s The Matrix: Brazil has 49.1% renewable energy And 50.9% of fossils. Brazilian agribusiness contributes significantly to clean energy generation, especially through sugarcane derivatives (17.5%), biomass from agricultural and forestry residues (8.4%) and biodiesel (5.1%), with a total of about 31% of the Brazilian renewable energy matrix in 2023.
(3) Adopting ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) policies: Implementing ESG standards has gained importance to attract investors and improve the reputation of agricultural companies in the global market. Integrating sustainable practices is a strategic imperative, and companies are looking for professionals who are proficient in governance, environmental impact management and social responsibility practices, as well as experts in traceability, certification, reporting and compliance audits.
(4) Circular economy and waste management: The concept of the circular economy, which values the reuse and recycling of materials (such as post-consumer packaging), has changed the way resources are managed. This trend creates a significant increase in demand for professionals who can develop and manage circular economy systems, aligning sustainable practices with production processes and conscious use of resources.
Career opportunities in the field of sustainability
(1) Sustainability Consulting: Dedicated professionals are needed to help companies implement more sustainable practices, develop ESG strategies and comply with more stringent environmental regulations, and provide guidance for a more sustainable economic transition.
(2) Environmental Engineering, Agriculture, Forestry and Renewable Energy: The demand for trained professionals in sustainable infrastructure projects, clean energy and environmental solutions is increasing. These professionals play essential roles in developing and operating energy efficiency systems, as well as collaborating on reforestation projects, restoring degraded areas and biodiversity.
(3) ESG Management: As ESG policies expand, companies are looking for managers able to integrate ESG standards into their operations and corporate strategies, and foster an organizational culture focused on sustainable practices and responsible governance.
(4) Developing more sustainable products and solutions: Designers, researchers, and entrepreneurs are increasingly being asked to create innovative products that improve sustainability performance. Startups and digital-based companies have emerged in finding innovative solutions to improve efficiency and generate value.
The agribusiness job market is expanding beyond traditional occupations, creating roles focused on sustainability and ESG requirements. Among them, the following stand out: corporate sustainability managers, renewable energy specialists, decarbonisation managers, climate risk analysts, water and waste resource managers, life cycle analysts (LCA), bioeconomy specialists, environmental compliance consultants, environmental data scientists and sustainable supply chain. . Managers, sustainable marketing experts, green finance professionals and sustainability educators.
These roles require skills such as long-term vision, systemic thinking and sustainable innovation, as well as knowledge of the circular economy, regulation and technology.
The importance of agriculture in the economy and employment opportunities
Agriculture plays an essential role in the country’s economy, both in generating wealth and creating jobs. In 2023, Brazilian agribusiness represented 24% of GDP, achieved a trade surplus of US$141 billion, and the number of workers reached 28.34 million, representing 26.8% of the country’s total occupations. In recent decades, the agricultural sector has recorded the largest increase in productivity compared to the services and industry sectors, one of the reasons being the increase in education and professional qualifications. Although Brazilian agriculture has shown remarkable progress in productivity and competitiveness, the education level of the workforce remains low and investments in training are still absolutely necessary. In this scenario, the opportunities for more qualified professionals are relatively greater than in other sectors.
conclusion
Sustainability skills are increasingly becoming indispensable in Brazilian agribusiness, no longer as a competitive differentiator, but as an increasing requirement in different production chains. This scenario reflects a shift in professions, with new demands for agricultural professionals, as it requires multidisciplinary training and knowledge, which contributes to Brazilian agriculture becoming increasingly competitive and prepared to face climate, social and environmental challenges.
Sources: Bain & Company, National Energy Balance (OIE), World Bank, CEPEA, CNI, Deloitte, Embrapa, FGV, Career Guide, Insper Agro, Karta do Brasil, Mackinsey & Company, MME, Revista Brasileira de Energia.
