On the day that Amazon Day was celebrated, concerns about deforestation and the impact of business on the environment were the most discussed topics. CEBDS Seminar Vision 2050: The Future is Made Now. During the event, held on the 5th in São Paulo, debates surrounding the humanization of the future of work, dominated by technology and innovation, were also highlighted.
The event brought together approximately 180 professionals from the 60 CEBDS member companies and leaders from Shell, Siemens, Neoenergia, Alcoa, Braskem, Itaú, Cofco, and institutions such as Abag and Abrafrutas. The consensus was that the business sector faces short- and medium-term challenges, as well as the urgent need to incorporate sustainable and cutting-edge processes and/or habits.
This year's edition of the seminar, sponsored by braskem It is Itau, also discussed topics such as climate, water, biodiversity, social impact, agriculture, energy transition, sustainable finance and circular economy, priorities for Brazil's sustainable economic development.
The meeting also kicked off discussions for the new edition of Vision 2050, which will be developed over the next year. The document, originally released in 2012, will outline the paths for sustainable development to advance over the coming decades.
Identifying opportunities
With several panels throughout the day, the professionals emphasized that Brazil cannot miss opportunities and that available technologies should be used as business allies. According to CEBDS president Marina Grossi, planning for the future is extremely important, and companies need to be drivers of new standards and lead the transition.
“Businesspeople must commit to these values. They are the ones who will make the difference for the customer and will end up affecting the results of the companies they lead”, stated Marina Grossi.
Innovation and technology in the agricultural sector dominated the Agriculture 4.0 panel. The agricultural chain has grown in recent years and reached exports of approximately US$1.4 billion in 2018, according to data mentioned by Luiz Cornachionni, executive director of the Brazilian Agribusiness Association (ABAG).
"In the past, when rural producers exhausted the land's natural resources, they would abandon their land, move to another, and start the whole process over again. Nowadays, with the available technologies and data, farmers no longer need to migrate, and this has led to better results for the sector," summarized Cornachionni.
The panelists on the financial impacts of climate change highlighted that Brazil has all the conditions to adopt “greener” policies in companies, but needs to learn how to operate in this new business model.
"We need to see and believe that these new practices are excellent for prosperity. The country has the potential to attract good and excellent investments, and we need to focus on the excellent ones," stated Siemens President André Clark.
To face the challenge of energy transition, the conclusion of the professionals who participated in the debate on the topic is that new energy sources are already being used by consumers, albeit tentatively. One example was cited by Neoenergia's president, Solange Ribeiro, who explained that, at times, 90% in the Northeast region has been supplied by renewable energy.
“Brazil has 45% of renewable energy capacity, while other countries have around 25%, so we need to take advantage of this,” commented the executive.
