Ana Carolina Palazzo, originally from the countryside of Brazil, developed a deep passion for agriculture early in life. Growing up in a rural setting, she was constantly exposed to the challenges and opportunities of farming. This exposure sparked her lifelong interest in the agricultural sector. Palazzo’s journey took a pivotal turn when she received a full scholarship to study contemporary Chinese studies at the Silk Road School of Renmin University of China. Her experience in China profoundly shaped her understanding of the intersection between agriculture, technology, and global commerce.
Palazzo spent seven months at Renmin University’s Suzhou campus in Jiangsu province, immersing herself in a multicultural environment alongside students from 23 different countries. This exposure to a diverse group of peers further expanded her global perspective and made her realize the importance of international cooperation, especially among young people. She believes that such exchange programs are crucial in building future cooperation by fostering mutual understanding and shared goals.
One of the most striking experiences Palazzo had during her time in China was witnessing firsthand the innovative agricultural practices employed across the country. During a field trip to a village in Jinhua, Zhejiang province, she was amazed by how local family farms optimized small spaces using cutting-edge technology, instead of relying on large plots of land as is common in Brazil. In particular, she observed vertical farming methods used for swine production, a practice she had never encountered in Brazil. This innovative approach to maximizing land use left a lasting impression on her, highlighting the stark differences between agricultural methods in China and Brazil.
Palazzo sees agriculture as much more than just farming. With a background in agriculture and agribusiness, she believes the sector is deeply intertwined with other industries such as economics, politics, logistics, culture, and marketing. The complexity of the global food and energy systems became even clearer to her during her visit to Yiwu, one of the world’s largest small commodity markets, located in Zhejiang province. Yiwu’s transformation from a small rural trading center into a global hub of commerce underscored the important role logistics and trade play in modern agriculture. Palazzo learned that, for centuries, Yiwu had served as a place where people exchanged basic goods such as sewing needles and sugar chunks, which were traded with rural villages for chicken feathers used as fertilizer or made into feather dusters for export. Over time, Yiwu became a bustling international trade market, serving as a key point in the logistics networks that connect China to the rest of the world.
Yiwu is now a critical part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, a global infrastructure project that strengthens trade connections between China and countries across Asia, Europe, and beyond. The Yiwu-Europe freight train, which travels from Yiwu to Madrid, Spain, serves as a key link in this growing global trade network. This train, part of the China-Europe freight network, allows for the efficient movement of goods, including agricultural products, between East and West. Palazzo’s visit to the Yiwu-Europe freight train confirmed her belief in the importance of global supply chains and logistics in facilitating trade and agricultural exchanges.
Palazzo’s experience in China not only gave her a deeper understanding of the role technology plays in agriculture but also provided her with valuable insights into the Chinese market. She now leads the agri-inputs department at a company in Brazil, where she actively works in the agribusiness sector and collaborates closely with Chinese companies. Her time in China helped her understand how to engage effectively with Chinese entrepreneurs and better navigate the complexities of the Chinese market.
She believes there is great potential for partnership between Brazil and China, given the complementary strengths of both nations. Brazil, with its vast natural resources, and China, with its technological innovations, can collaborate in ways that benefit both countries. The agricultural sector, in particular, offers numerous opportunities for collaboration, from sharing best practices in farming to enhancing logistics and trade networks. The growth of China-Brazil ties, coupled with China’s expanding influence in the global economy, could pave the way for a stronger partnership between the two countries in the future.
Looking ahead, Palazzo envisions her career increasingly intertwined with China. She notes that China’s global influence continues to expand, and she believes that aligning with China’s economic and technological growth offers great potential for future cooperation. While Brazil and China may not always agree on every issue, Palazzo emphasizes the importance of understanding one another and finding common ground for mutual benefit. As the two countries continue to strengthen their ties, the agricultural synergies between them could unlock significant opportunities for future collaboration, helping to create a more sustainable and innovative global food system.
