Hot Topics in Agriculture: Diversity in Agriculture Makes HAS Better Together
Huber AgroSolutions (HAS) is proud to celebrate our diverse network of colleagues around the globe.
Throughout the month of October, there are several days that recognize professionals in the Agriculture industry, including:
- US National Farmers Day on October 12
- International Day of Rural Women on October 15
- World Food Day on October 16
- World Planting Day on October 22
From the Americas to Europe and beyond, a few employees from our highly skilled, technically trained team took the opportunity to share about their backgrounds, trends in the industry, as well as advice they’d offer to young professionals seeking a career in Agriculture.
Meet our Team from around the Globe
Melanie Quimbar, International Territory Manager
Miller Chemical & Fertilizer
Mexico
Why did you pursue a career in the agriculture industry?
Agriculture is the base for the development of all industries and the most important for subsistence to the whole world. I was born in Guadalajara, one of the biggest cities in Mexico. Everyone in my family works in the city, but I have always felt passion for crops and agriculture because it’s a multidisciplinary science with many challenges, and the labor of the agronomist, to guarantee food safety to all the world seemed like great work.
When I was studying in university, I also worked in a blueberry field. So, I could understand the main challenges in production. Now I work for Miller Chemical covering 46 crops in different areas, and I feel very enthusiastic that I can help different growers with our products and technical support.
How do you see global agricultural practices evolving to ensure a more sustainable future for farmers? Are there any trends or innovations in farming you find promising?
The way agriculture has been worked in recent years has been wearing down the most important resources: soil and water. So, I think the most important innovation will be to implement strategies to measure what the growers apply on their farms and the impact that they have. Because if they can measure, they could improve.
With tools such as climate data, remote sensors and quality products, growers can produce more yields with less impact, enhance the use of water and the health in crops, as well as reduce vegetal stress.
What advice would you give young professionals in Agriculture?
I’d tell them that agriculture needs new ways to produce food, and it’s our responsibility to make the change. We are in the information era, but we need to apply the information to make a change in the world, starting with the principal labor for the development of humans—agriculture.
Also, its important works in fields, to understand the real challenges of the growers. And that its important move to different regions to learn what others do.
Rosa Jaña, Marketing Communications Specialist Central & South America
Miller Chemical & Fertilizer
Quillota, Chile
Why did you pursue a career in the agriculture industry?
I have always been close to agriculture. I was born and raised in one of the most important agricultural regions in Chile, and I have many family members who work in the agricultural industry, which nurtured my love for nature. In college, I was fortunate enough to meet and learn about this wonderful activity so important to our society, and my love and interest in pursuing a career in the agricultural industry increased every year.
I came to Miller/HAS by chance, thanks to globalization and social networks I was able to have the opportunity to be part of this great company.
How do you see global agricultural practices evolving to ensure a more sustainable future? Are there any trends or innovations you find promising?
Being a farmer in Latin America is no easy task. The agricultural and food systems of Latin America and the Caribbean have fed a rapidly growing population, facilitated economic development, enabled urbanization, generated significant export revenues and helped reduce hunger and poverty. Technological advances are opening the door to new, more efficient and environmentally friendly methods.
As with most complex problems, there is no “silver bullet” solution, but rather a combination of necessary actions. One approach that offers great potential is the circular economy, to make better use of land management, energy and water consumption, waste management and pollution prevention. Technological innovations such as smart agriculture, precision farming, water reuse, bioenergy and biofertilizers offer numerous opportunities to contribute to these approaches, enabling intensive and efficient use of resources, high productivity and a low environmental footprint, as well as greater climate resilience.
What advice would you give young professionals in Agriculture?
They must be willing to adapt to the new needs of consumers, the environment and productivity, so innovation must be the driving force to move forward. They must contribute and leave their mark on what they do, doing work that makes sense and has an impact on society.
Kayla Smith, Territory Manager for Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa
Miller Chemical & Fertilizer
Wisconsin, USA
Why did you pursue a career in the agriculture industry?
I pursued a career in agriculture because I have always had a passion for the industry. I grew up in a small town in central Wisconsin and my family was involved in agriculture. I attended the University of Wisconsin-River Falls as an Agriculture Business major. After college, I found my niche in the specialty crop market.
How do you see global agricultural practices evolving to ensure a more sustainable future? Are there any trends or innovations you find promising?
Sustainability is an important topic surrounding agriculture. With the growing population and the limited resources that we have to feed the world, we are faced with the challenge to produce more with less. The advancements in technology and genetics have allowed us to make strides in the right direction toward a more sustainable future.
What advice would you give young professionals in Agriculture?
Advice I would give to young professionals in agriculture is to never stop learning. Agriculture is an extremely diverse industry and there are endless opportunities to learn every day. Don’t be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone.
Renato Procaccini, Regulatory Label Content Specialist
Biolchim
Medicine, Bologna, Italy
Why did you pursue a career in the agriculture industry?
When I finished my previous work experience, a friend of mine who worked at Biolchim told me that they were looking for people. When I started this job, I knew almost nothing about the world of agriculture to which we also belong, and it was really interesting for me to understand what revolves around this big industry, and especially how this type of market works and why they focus so much on specific products that have certain qualities.
I have found it fascinating to understand the use of our products and what kind of effectiveness they have on specific crops, so I am very happy with the choice I made and that I entered this world about 10 years ago.
How do you see global agricultural practices evolving to ensure a more sustainable future? Are there any trends or innovations you find promising?
Since I started working at Biolchim, the company has always attached great importance to sustainability with concrete strategic and organizational ideas, such as:
- the selection of raw materials from sustainable sources
- innovative and environmentally friendly technical means
- emissions and waste management
What companies are doing from this point of view, I consider it very promising. One example is very careful control of raw materials, which are subjected to strict analytical controls to ensure their safety and the absence of contaminants that leave residues in the environment or in crops to offer a wide range of environmentally friendly products on the market (something our company is already doing).
What advice would you give young professionals in Agriculture?
To study the evolution of the various markets very carefully and to invest a lot (this is mainly aimed at companies) in research and development.
To attach great importance and care to the environmental impact of their business and to ensure the quality of the service offered.
Fabrizio Bolognini, Italy Customer Care Manager
Cifo
San Giorgio Di Piano, Bologna, Italy
Why did you pursue a career in the agriculture industry?
I was hired on September 1, 1997, and I was 25 years old. I had no expertise in the agricultural industry. My skills were only in office work. CIFO was a growing company, and I had a lot of interest in this area.
How do you see global agricultural practices evolving to ensure a more sustainable future? Are there any trends or innovations you find promising?
Agriculture has always been fundamental to human development and livelihood. I believe we should invest more in innovations to have more environmentally sustainable products.
What advice would you give young professionals in Agriculture?
My advice is to invest in technology on your farm; that way, you will be able to have more sustainable agriculture.
Angelo Cifarelli, Agronomist for Southern Italy and Central and South America
ILSA
Matera, Italy
Why did you pursue a career in the agriculture industry?
First of all, out of passion, passed down to me by my father. But also because it is a very stimulating and multidisciplinary sector, with skills ranging from chemistry to physics, from mathematics to economics, from marketing to communication. Moreover, it is a crucial sector for humanity, as a source of food, energy and well-being. And especially in recent years, it has been continuously evolving.
How do you see global agricultural practices evolving to ensure a more sustainable future? Are there any trends or innovations you find promising?
I believe we are heading to the right direction. Consumers are more sensitive to environmental and eco-sustainability issues, and consequently, companies are starting to produce in an eco-friendly manner. Natural biostimulants and precision fertilization are, in my opinion, the two main trends that will lead to increased yields per hectare and improved quality of production using fewer resources and prioritizing natural resources. We need to adapt to climate change, and therefore, biostimulants will be the tools that will allow us to produce while minimizing stress.
What advice would you give young professionals in Agriculture?
I have three pieces of advice for young agricultural entrepreneurs.
The first is to stay updated about agricultural advancements and to experiment with new, more efficient solutions. Agriculture is constantly evolving, and it’s important for agricultural practices to evolve towards greater efficiency and sustainability as well. Unfortunately, we still hear the phrase “it has always been done this way” too often!
The second is to focus on quality, a factor that can make a difference in the market, given consumers’ increased preference for products that are good and safe from a health perspective.
The third is to collaborate with each other. Through cooperation or even the creation of a brand, it is possible to enhance one’s productions and counteract the dominance of prices set by organized distribution.
Marta Magnano, Crop Specialist for Grapes
ILSA
Verona, Italy
Why did you pursue a career in the agriculture industry?
Since I was a child, I have always been passionate about nature, flowers and plants. This passion was passed down to me by my parents who worked in the gardening and ornamental cultivation sector. After finishing university, I started working in the seed sector. I had never approached the agricultural sector before, and it was a great discovery for me. Within a few months, I began working for a multinational company specializing in crop protection as a technical sales manager, and that’s where my career began.
How do you see global agricultural practices evolving to ensure a more sustainable future? Are there any trends or innovations you find promising?
I believe that research can help us make the products we use for cultivation increasingly efficient, aiming to optimize investments and increase agricultural soil yields. Furthermore, I strongly believe in the improvement of technologies for product application. Especially in challenging agricultural years and soils, the mode of application can make a significant difference in product efficiency.
What advice would you give young professionals in Agriculture?
First and foremost, I recommend listening as much as possible: the practical experience of the “veterans” in the field is always very concrete. I also advise observing people but, above all, plants, and spending as much time as possible in the field. Lastly, I suggest always studying and keeping yourself updated.
Youssef Beni Houd, Technical Responsible for North and Central Italy and Foreign Countries
ILSA
Rimini, Italy
Why did you pursue a career in the agriculture industry?
I took up a career in the agriculture sector due to my grandfather, who had a farm in Marrakech (Morocco). When I was a child, I usually visited the farm with my parents, where I discovered animals such as the Arabic horse, cow, and sheep, as well as olive and orange cultivation. It was an excellent experience.
From that moment on, I started in my house garden in Marrakech when I was six years old to get my first experience with the cultivation of tomatoes, lentils and American potatoes (spread across the country) and to take note of the date of cultivation, plant development and maturation period (harvest) in my diary. Let me say that for a child, it was an amazing discovery but at that time, it was a signal to direct me toward the agricultural sector.
I relocated to Italy when I was 13, and after some adjustments and challenges I met my Italian literature Professor, she was my second mother. Thanks also to her, I was able to learn the Italian language and understand the Italian mentality, get high school, university, and PhD diplomas with excellent scores and finally pursue my professional career in the agriculture sector.
How do you see global agricultural practices evolving to ensure a more sustainable future? Are there any trends or innovations you find promising?
I reckon, from my side, that global agricultural practices are needed to build a sustainable future for the sector because agriculture will provide a source of occupation, reduce poverty in rural areas, increase farmers’ incomes, limit inflation and stabilize food prices. As it is known, the potential of agricultural development to solve the poverty problem is four times greater than other economic areas (Larsen et al., 2009.).
What advice would you give young professionals in Agriculture?
What I can advise to young professionals is:
Participate in continuous training, updates and study. If they can get experience outside of their country, e.g., in Anglo-Saxon countries doing internships in universities, public organizations or the private sector could be helpful to improve their skills and to pursue their professional career.
To get familiar with and start using AI to solve problems and contribute to the development of the agricultural sector.
To be open-minded, demolishing cultural barriers because all together we live on the same planet, and we need solutions, not complications.