The agro-industry plays an important and strategic role in Brazilian agribusiness, as it connects primary production to market demands through the processing and industrialization of agricultural, forestry and fishing products. This sector not only reduces losses and extends the shelf life of products, but also boosts international competitiveness and promotes regional development, creating direct and indirect jobs at various stages of the production process.
In 2024, the Brazilian agro-industry had a positive balance driven by the growth in agricultural production, technological advances and the expansion of exports, especially to Asia. With government incentives and the modernization of the sector, turnover grew by around 8% compared to 2023, reaching a record volume.
Data from the Center for Advanced Studies in Applied Economics (Cepea) shows that agribusiness as a whole accounts for around 23% of the national GDP, and agribusiness accounts for 7.4% of Brazil’s gross domestic product. The trend is for this growth to continue into 2025, consolidating agribusiness as one of the pillars of the economy.
In addition, the outlook is optimistic if we take into account the expansion of credit lines for sustainable projects, such as ABC+ (Low Carbon Agriculture), the growing adoption of technologies, the opening up of new markets in emerging countries and the strengthening of PPPs (public-private partnerships), which should attract new investments to the sector.
Currently, the federal government offers a series of credit incentives for agribusiness. Although fundamental, these credit incentives face barriers that hinder their efficiency and inclusion. These include the concentration of resources, which benefits large companies and excludes small producers, excessive bureaucracy which ends up discouraging entrepreneurs, a lack of transparency in the distribution of resources and regional inequality, since certain locations receive less investment.
These are all challenges that need to be overcome from a macro perspective, but which can be dealt with on a case-by-case basis through expert advice.
The agro-industry is an essential lever for Brazil’s economic development. Its importance in the agribusiness chain, its contribution to GDP and its capacity to create jobs are unquestionable.
However, it is important that government incentives are constantly improved in order to increase access to credit for the agro-industry, promote sustainability and reduce regional inequalities. The future of the Brazilian agro-industry depends on innovative, sustainable and inclusive solutions that consolidate its position as one of the engines of the national and global economy.
