Women in Agribusiness: Bridging Brazil and Africa, Breaking Barriers, & Building Legacies: How Women Leaders Are Transforming Agriculture Across Two Continents

In an industry long dominated by men, women are not just participating, they are leading, innovating, and redefining what's possible in agriculture. From Brazil's sophisticated commodity/specialty markets to Africa's thriving agribusiness entrepreneurs, women are proving that when given equal access to resources, training, and opportunities, they don't just succeed, they excel.

The Brazilian Trailblazers: Leadership Through Innovation

Stéphanie Ferreira Gobato: Redefining Rural Leadership

An agronomist trained at the University of São Paulo and raised in a family of cattle ranchers, Stéphanie Gobato now serves as President of the National Commission of Women in Agribusiness at Brazil's powerful Confederation of Agriculture and Livestock (CNA).

Her message is clear and powerful: "Rural women have always worked hard, but now they understand their place, their power, and their right to be where decisions are made."

Gobato believes that women bring unique inputs to agribusiness, especially in communication, teamwork, and resilience. Under her leadership, the Commission works to strengthen local women's committees, recognize talents, and support training in leadership and innovation across Brazil's vast agricultural landscape.

The impact of representation cannot be overstated. "Women are now occupying spaces they didn't imagine before. When they see another woman leading, they think: 'I can be there too,'" Gobato explains.

Kassiane Thayna: Overcoming Adversity to Impact Leader in Brazil's Coffee Industry

Kassiane Thayna's story is one of resilience and passion. Born with a vision impairment, she overcame obstacles while growing up on a family farm in rural Brazil. Embracing her challenges, Kassiane took on more responsibility for the farm's coffee production, eventually becoming known for her award-winning, premium coffee. Beyond the fields, she influences over 2 million followers on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, sharing her journey of overcoming adversity and inspiring others. Her posts resonate with coffee lovers, aspiring farmers, and women worldwide, demonstrating that success isn't defined by your circumstances. Kassiane also authored "Cultivating Dreams: A Journey from Coffee to Confidence," inspiring many to pursue their passions despite obstacles. In her community, she breaks down barriers, proving that anyone can impact agriculture and beyond, regardless of gender or ability.

Liliane Queiroz: From 35 Steers to a Million-Dollar Operation

Known in the industry as "the lady of agro," Liliane Queiroz received just 35 head of cattle as a gift from her father-in-law in the early 2000s on her farm in the North of Minas Gerais. What happened next is nothing short of remarkable.

She transformed this small herd into an operation that now houses up to 3,000 animals in confinement with quality genetics. Her success came not from physical strength alone, but from strategic management, forward-thinking, and a passion for the countryside.

"You need to show that you understand the business. Women need to work side by side with their families, learning and acting with confidence," she advises aspiring female farmers.

Her story resonates because it represents a broader truth: women face obstacles in accessing credit, management, and competitive markets, yet they can and should occupy their place in the agricultural sector.

Ticiane Vitoria Figueiredo: The Legal Mind Powering Brazilian Agribusiness

A respected agribusiness lawyer, Ticiane has become a standout voice in one of Brazil's most powerful economic sectors. Known for her sharp legal insight and deep understanding of rural business dynamics, she has built a reputation for guiding producers, companies, and investors through the complex world of agricultural legislation, land regulation, and environmental compliance. Her influence comes not only from her technical expertise but from her commitment to strengthening and modernizing the legal foundations of Brazilian agribusiness. Ticiane champions sustainable growth, legal security, and strategic planning pillars that today's rural enterprises depend on. For women in the sector, she serves as both example and advocate. Her trajectory shows that leadership in agribusiness is not limited to the field; it also thrives in the courtroom, in negotiation rooms, and in policy discussions. By occupying these spaces with authority and confidence, she inspires more women to claim their place in shaping the future of Brazil's rural economy.

Fabiana Alves: Banking on Sustainable Agriculture

As CEO of Rabobank Brazil, Fabiana Alves brings seasoned leadership and experience in the food and agriculture realm that includes production, processing, and livestock management.

Her vision extends beyond profits. "First, I wanted to inspire other women to take leadership positions and not shy away from exploring their potential, preparing to be impactful leaders," Alves shares. She's using her platform to bridge the gap between Brazil's agricultural achievements and global perception, advocating for sustainable innovation, community empowerment, and ethical leadership.

The African Changemakers: Innovation Meets Determination

Jane Maigua: Building an Export Powerhouse in Kenya

Jane Maigua is the CEO of Exotic EPZ, a macadamia nuts processing and export company based in Nairobi. The company was restarted in 2017 under Jane's leadership and has grown its supply from the Netherlands to a growing customer base in USA, Spain, Germany, Italy and China.

What makes this achievement even more remarkable? Jane has two business partners, Charity Ndegwa and Loise Maina, and together they have established the only solely woman-owned processing and export company in the macadamia value chain in East Africa.

The company's impact extends far beyond the three founders. Exotic EPZ employs over 100 workers, of which 85% are women and 75% are youth, and sources its raw nuts from over 5,000 smallholder farmers.

Dr. Emma Naluyima: From Smallholder Farmer to Innovative Agricultural Leader in Uganda

Dr Emma did not begin with vast land or large capital. Trained as a veterinarian, she returned home determined to transform her one-acre plot into a model of efficiency and sustainability. By combining livestock, crop production, and organic waste recycling, she created an integrated farm that feeds her family, generates strong income, and inspires farmers across Uganda.

Today, she is an award-winning agripreneur recognized for her practical, science-based approach to farming. "When I saw how each part of the farm could support another, I knew we had created something powerful", she often shares when speaking to young farmers and students. Her journey carries special significance in communities where women are rarely seen as agricultural innovators. By challenging expectations and proving what's possible on even the smallest piece of land, she is opening doors for countless women and youth in agriculture.

Yemisi Iranloye: How One Woman Is Reshaping Nigeria’s Cassava Industry

Yemisi Iranloye is the founder and CEO of Psaltry International Limited, often hailed as Nigeria’s “Cassava Queen.” She turned cassava from a subsistence root into a major agro-industrial commodity. Since establishing Psaltry in 2005 in Ado-Awaye (Oyo State), the company now processes over 10,000 tons of cassava a year, producing food-grade starch, cassava flour and Africa’s first cassava-based sorbitol, supplying global firms like Nestlé, Unilever and Nigerian Breweries.

Her approach centers on rural empowerment: working with more than 5,000 smallholder farmers, guaranteeing fair prices, training and stable demand, a ripple effect uplifting more than 100,000 families in the region.

“By placing smallholder farmers at the center of industrial agriculture,” she says, “we are rewriting what cassava means, from subsistence to sustainable prosperity.”

Rebecca Tshuma: Fresh from Farm to Table in South Africa

Rebecca Tshuma, founder of high-growth business Becks Foods, is building a reputation for supplying some of the freshest, healthiest produce direct from the farm.

In a country where food security is paramount, Rebecca's business model addresses a critical need. From major food retailers to the hospitality industry, commercial customers look for reliable, high quality, fresh produce suppliers to meet their needs, and Becks Foods is growing to be there for them.

Sheila Uwibona: Building Cooperatives That Empower in Rwanda

Sheila Uwibona, founder of Ubuntu Women Farmers for honey producers, shared her cooperative's mission to empower women in agriculture by promoting sustainable practices and providing leadership opportunities to female farmers.

Her model demonstrates that success isn't just individual, it is collective. By organizing women farmers into cooperatives, Sheila is creating systems that lift entire communities.

The Shared Challenges: Different Continents, Similar Barriers

Despite operating in vastly different contexts, women in Brazilian and African agribusiness face remarkably similar obstacles such as:

Access to Resources

In Brazil, despite women leading more than a quarter of the country's farms and occupying 19% of management positions in Brazilian agribusinesses, challenges persist. Women in agriculture still face significant barriers, including limited access to land, credit, agricultural inputs, and markets, as well as the persistence of gender stereotypes.

The situation mirrors Africa, where female-led agribusinesses tend to remain small, fragmented, and informal in nature, struggling to sustain and scale-up into well-organized profitable enterprises.

The Financing Gap

Most female-led SME agribusinesses on the continent typically need a capital injection of under $50,000. Women have consistently demonstrated greater creditworthiness than men, often repaying loans within the agreed timeframes. However, access to financing remains challenging. In Africa, women receive less than 1% of the credit financing allocated to agricultural activities, which restricts their capacity to grow their businesses.

Cultural Expectations

In both Brazil and Africa, women often bear dual responsibilities at home and in the workplace. Simone Bossa de Paula, Vice-president of Brazil's National Commission, states: "We are the ones who manage, plan, and implement. It's time to demonstrate how much women contribute to the growth of our sector."

Many women balance the demands of their professional roles with their duties as wives, mothers, and household caretakers, which can occasionally be seen as a barrier to their career progression.

What Each Continent Can Learn From the Other

Brazil's Lessons for Africa: Systems and Structure

African women can adopt strategies from Brazilian women entrepreneurs to help them overcome these challenges and gain the skills necessary to grow their businesses, such as:

1. Professional Training Programs

Brazil's investment in agricultural education has been transformational. Targeted training and individualized technical assistance can overcome structural barriers to women's participation in agriculture. African nations can adapt these models, creating certification programs that give women credentials recognized by buyers and financiers.

2. Organized Advocacy

The National Commission of Women in Agriculture in Brazil works to strengthen local women's committees, recognize talents, and support training in leadership and innovation. This structured approach to advocacy ensures women's voices reach decision-making tables.

3. Integration into Formal Markets

Brazilian women have successfully penetrated formal supply chains. The key? Consistent quality, professional standards, and collective bargaining power through cooperatives and associations.

Africa's Lessons for Brazil: Innovation and Resilience

1. Community-Centered Business Models

African women entrepreneurs excel at building businesses that prioritize community impact alongside profits. Models like Jane Maigua's focus on youth employment offer blueprints for socially responsible agribusiness.

2. Technology Leapfrogging

Pretty Dlamini, an agtech leader who leads eFama with 20+ certifications in cloud computing, cybersecurity, and blockchain, is transforming Africa's agricultural supply chain through digital innovation. African women are embracing cutting-edge technology to bypass traditional infrastructure limitations.

3. Diverse Value-Addition

From women in Brazil's Amazon region organizing cooperatives for acai berry production into a multibillion-dollar business to African entrepreneurs creating specialty products, the lesson is clear: raw material production is just the beginning. Real value lies in processing, branding, and market positioning.

The Multiplier Effect: Why Investing in Women Matters

According to FAO, women account for around 54 percent of the workforce employed in the off-farm segments of Africa's agrifood systems. In agriculture overall, women contribute between 60% and 80% of the labor in food production across Africa.

The return on investment is clear: "Women's entrepreneurship is essential for fostering economic diversity and sustainable growth. When women earn, they spend a high proportion of their income on children's health, education, and nutrition, breaking the cycle of poverty," explains Robynne Anderson, Secretary General of the International Agri-Food Network.

Supporting and empowering women in rural areas has a multiplier effect on social and economic outcomes, encouraging generational succession in farming.

Building Bridges: The Kukuza Approach

At Kukuza Agronegócio, we understand that knowledge transfer is the bridge between potential and achievement. Our programs are designed specifically to connect and build relationships between working professionals from both continents.

Why Brazil-Africa Partnerships Work

1. Shared Challenges: Both regions have transformed challenging agricultural conditions into opportunities. Brazil's experience turning the Cerrado wasteland into productive farmland offers direct lessons for African contexts.

2. Climate Similarities: Tropical and subtropical conditions, seasonal rainfall patterns, and soil management challenges are common to both continents.

3. Scale-Appropriate Solutions: Unlike Northern hemisphere agricultural models that require massive capital investment, Brazilian techniques often prioritize resourcefulness and adaptation is perfect for African contexts.

   
   

Our Commitment to Women in Agribusiness

Our training programs intentionally create space for women leaders:

• Our Immersion Programs: Includes specific modules on cooperative management and market access skills where women entrepreneurs can excel

• One-on-One Consultations: Flexible scheduling and virtual options accommodate women balancing multiple responsibilities

• Network Building: Connecting African agripreneurs with a network of experienced individuals who've navigated similar challenges

• Practical, Hands-On Learning: Moving beyond theory to implementation seeing successful business operations in action

The Path Forward: Five Actions for Accelerated Progress

1. Invest in Targeted Training

Creation of programs that address women's specific needs, including flexible scheduling, spousal commitment, childcare support, and content that builds both technical skills and business confidence.

2. Reform Land and Credit Access

Policies must ensure women can own land, access credit on fair terms, and inherit agricultural assets. It often takes very little to make a difference, with capital injections typically less than $50,000.

3. Build Strong Networks

Connect women across borders. A Brazilian coffee farmer and a Kenyan macadamia processor have more in common than either might think. Cross-continental relationships and knowledge exchange accelerate progress.

4. Amplify Success Stories

Visibility matters. When women see another woman leading, they think: "I can be there too". Share stories, celebrate achievements, and create role models.

5. Support Women-Led Cooperatives

Collective action multiplies impact. Cooperatives give women bargaining power, access to better prices, shared resources, and mutual support systems.

Join the Movement

The women featured in this article prove that when women receive training, support, and opportunity, they don't just participate in agribusiness transformation. They lead it.

When women thrive in agribusiness, entire communities prosper. Food security improves. Innovation accelerates. And the next generation of leaders, both sons and daughters, see agriculture as a profession of dignity, opportunity, and impact.

The revolution is already underway. The question isn't whether women will transform agribusiness on both continents.

The question is: Will you be part of making it happen?

Ready to be part of this transformation?

Whether you're a woman farmer looking to scale your operation, a cooperative seeking to improve quality standards, or an entrepreneur ready to learn from the best, Kukuza Agronegócio can connect with you.

📞 Contact us today:

• Phone: +55 11 97298-3507

• Email: info@kukuzaagronegocio.com