Women inspire innovation in the agroindustrial sector – 12/04/2023 – Science

Still in a scenario of gender disparity among professionals, the female presence is becoming more evident in the agribusiness. At Embrapa (Brazilian Agricultural Research Company), 759 of the 2,155 researchers are women (35%).

In August this year, the company announced that 21 of its scientists are included in the 2023 global ranking of the academic portal Research.com. There are six women on the list — one of them is Johanna Döbereiner (1924-2000), one of the country’s most important scientists. A Sheet heard from the other five researchers mentioned in the survey.

To define the placement of professionals, the number of articles and the number of citations are analyzed, in addition to factors such as awards, scholarships and other recognition granted by research institutions and government agencies. The study collected information in December 2022 and considered 26 areas in 60 countries, with almost 167 thousand researchers, 2,000 of whom were in the field of agricultural sciences.

“I see this recognition of our work as a consequence of an unbridled passion for science”, says veterinarian Luciana Regitano, PhD in genetics and plant breeding and researcher at Embrapa Agropecuária.

Without the aim of appearing on lists of successful researchers, Regitano states that he dedicates himself to science to produce knowledge and technologies to improve people’s lives. “There is no greater recognition than seeing a former mentee excel in their career or seeing the articles we wrote being used as a starting point for new studies.”

Their research analyzes the structural (DNA) and functional genome (RNA, proteins and regulatory elements) of cattle to understand genetic mechanisms that contribute to the production, quality and sustainability of meat in tropical climates, as a large part of global studies is conducted under the climatic conditions of the northern hemisphere.

“We describe genes, genetic markers and biological processes that help us understand what makes a cattle resistant to ticks, makes better use of food, emits less methane or produces more tender meat”, he explains.

With a PhD in agronomy with an emphasis on soil science, agronomist Veronica Reis, a researcher at Embrapa Agrobiology, considers peer recognition through surveys such as the one by Research.com to be essential. “This represents quality of information and validates research work that can change paradigms.”

Agricultural engineer Mariangela Hungary, PhD in soil science and researcher at Embrapa Soja, highlights the importance of establishing contacts with professionals beyond the scientific community. “The mention in the ranking is very relevant, but it is also very significant to arrive on a field day and the farmer says: ‘Yes, doctor, I know your work’.”

The granddaughter of a science teacher, Hungary already dreamed of being a microbiologist at the age of eight, when she was enchanted by the stories her grandmother told her about the field. Today, in the field of soil microbiology, she studies processes such as the replacement of chemical fertilizers with biofertilizers.

Graduated in the 1970s, the researcher states that, at that time, women were a minority in the agronomy course. “He was the country man, the farm owner, the agronomist, and women were rare.” Today, on the other hand, she notices an increase in the female presence in different areas of the agroindustry, from working on farms to running startups.

The perception is corroborated by Regitano, from Embrapa Agropecuária: “I belong to a generation of women who needed to show that they were as strong or even stronger than men to seek a place in the semi-shade. It was very rare to see them leading a large group of research: in general, they were always team members who worked very hard and, often, did not even receive credit.”

For biologist Ana Carolina Chagas, PhD in animal science and researcher at Embrapa Pecuária Sudeste, the benefits caused by diversity among scientists have a positive impact, including in the search for solutions to recent challenges in agriculture.

Chagas works in the area of ​​veterinary parasitology, focusing on alternatives for controlling animals such as ticks and worms. Difficult to eliminate due to the resistance they have created to insecticides, these parasites can transmit diseases and negatively impact production if they are not combated.

“When we serve family producers or those at different levels, we know that women are also on the inside, working directly in planting, breeding, management and production logistics. They are also clients of agricultural research and deserve to be met by a closer look at their realities”, says the scientist.

Joice Ferreira, biologist, researcher at Embrapa Amazônia Oriental and coordinator of the Sustainable Amazon Network, also emphasizes the recognition in the Research.com ranking as the result of permanent cooperation between different scientists. Her work focuses on agricultural production that prioritizes socio-environmental sustainability and biodiversity conservation.

“We need to think about conserving the environment for now and for future generations, and this requires a broad vision. In a space dominated by men, as is still the case in many places, depth of thought is lost. With more women at In front of agricultural research, the vision becomes more comprehensive to attack complex problems and solve them”, says Ferreira, who has a doctorate in ecology.

Today, all scientists occupy leadership positions in different sectors of Embrapa and feel represented by Silvia Massruhá, the first woman to assume the presidency of the state-owned company in 50 years. For Massruhá, the milestone represents an opportunity to better value the work of other scientists.

“It is an important step for the company towards increasingly egalitarian and inclusive management. We will work hard to make this happen, expanding the possibilities of giving visibility and recognition to the capacity and knowledge accumulated by so many women at Embrapa.”

Today, 32% of the institution’s 7,800 employees are women, according to the company. Last year, the proportion on the executive board rose from 25% to 40%, and the institution plans to reach 60%.

Despite the numbers, the president assesses that representation is still low and mentions the creation of the Brazilian Rural Women’s Observatory, a resource that is part of Agropensa (Embrapa’s Strategic Intelligence System), as an action to encourage gender equality in the state-owned company. .

“Through the visual and interactive presentation of data, analyses, diagnoses and prognoses, this tool aims to provide subsidies for the development of strategies, projects and programs and for the creation or improvement of public policies for the benefit of women who work in agricultural and forestry activities and aquaculture”, he explains.

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