Member Virtual Meeting Report

Latin America

Virtual Member Meeting Report

By Jose Alexandre Loyola

On the morning of 19 May, I moderated AgGateway's first Latin America Virtual Member Meeting of 2026. We engaged in two hours of deep technical discussion with leading experts in the agriculture sector, focused on real, high-impact solutions.

Panel 1 — Precision Agriculture & Digital Farming in Sugarcane

Marcos Luis Geraldi Filho (Usina São Manuel), André Pregnaca (Alagro), and Marcelo Pierossi (Lidera Technical Consulting) cut straight to the point. The debate wasn't about technology — it was about outcomes:

  • Why has precision agriculture in sugarcane been around for 20+ years and still hasn't fully taken off?
  • What has delivered measurable ROI — and what is still in the hope phase?
  • Who is actually closing the full cycle: data collection → analysis → prescription → action → evaluation?

The key takeaway: The bottleneck is rarely technology. It's people, process, and — above all — demonstrating real value to those who foot the bill.

Panel 2 — PwC's 29th CEO Survey: What the Data Says for Agribusiness

Fabio H. Pereira (PwC AgTech Innovation Director) delivered a sharp reading of the global survey, with a specific lens on Brazil and Agribusiness:

  • CEO confidence in agribusiness dropped roughly 10–11 points between 2025 and 2026 — across both 12-month and 3-year horizons
  • Even so, the industry remains the most confident sector in Brazil, ahead of national and global benchmarks
  • The short vs. long-term tension is real: Agendas are locked in the immediate, while AI and diversification already demand decisions

The companies that will pull ahead are those that are building solid AI foundations, following capital flows, innovating consistently — and refusing to freeze in the face of uncertainty.

The line that captures the key takeaway from the session: The challenge isn't choosing between short and long term. It's balancing both — deliberately.

I would like to thank the presenters for their compelling presentations and discussion, and I look forward to integrating their suggestions into our strategic plans for the Latin America region.