Mechanization in family farming goes far beyond efficiency gains translation Led by the Ministry of Agrarian Development and Family Farming (MDA), Brazil took a decisive step toward strengthening sustainable and inclusive rural development with the realization of the *First National Fair of Machinery and Technologies for Family Farming* — a landmark initiative that brought innovation, accessibility, and public policy together in support of small-scale agriculture. The strategic importance of the event was underscored by the active participation of former Minister of Agrarian Development and Family Farming, Paulo Teixeira, and the current Minister, Fernanda Machiaveli, who took part throughout the Fair, engaging with exhibitors, family farmers and institutional partners.

Held in March in Campinas, the Fair welcomed more than 4,000 visitors and showcased the growing role of technology and mechanization in enhancing productivity, income generation, and food security within family farming systems. The event brought together leading national and international manufacturers, while also giving visibility to small and medium-sized Brazilian companies, independent inventors, entrepreneurs, family farmers with practical technological solutions, and Science, Technology and Innovation Institutions (STIs).

With more than 110 machines, implements, technologies, inventions, and prototypes on display, presented by over 60 exhibitors, the exhibition stood out as one of the Fair’s main highlights. The diversity of participants — including large and small national companies, foreign firms, innovation-support organizations, and individual innovators — reflected a dynamic ecosystem increasingly focused on developing solutions tailored to the realities of family farming.

The initiative reinforced the central role of family farmers in Brazil’s sustainable development strategy and demonstrated how targeted and appropriate innovation can generate lasting social, economic, and environmental impact. By focusing on accessible, locally adapted, and scalable technologies, the Fair successfully bridged innovation with productive inclusion, ensuring that technological advances reach those who need them most.

Mechanization in family farming goes far beyond efficiency gains. By reducing the physical burden of agricultural labor, it contributes to improved working conditions, higher productivity, and more stable incomes across the agricultural value chain. It also plays a key role in empowering rural women and youth, reducing drudgery, opening new economic opportunities, and making agriculture a more attractive and viable path for future generations.

Beyond the exhibition area, the Fair served as an important platform for knowledge exchange, policy dialogue, and partnership building. It created a space where public policies met real-world experiences, enabling farmers, researchers, companies, and policymakers to discuss challenges, share solutions, and explore pathways for expanding access to technology in rural areas.

In line with its commitment to international cooperation and innovation-driven development, the MDA has also been actively promoting the attraction of investments and strategic alliances through joint ventures as powerful instruments to foster technological innovation focused on family farming. In recent years, this approach has begun to materialize through new partnerships between Brazilian companies and firms from other BRICS countries, strengthening industrial cooperation, facilitating technology transfer, and expanding access to appropriate machinery and solutions for small-scale farmers.

In this sense, the Fair represents the materialization of policy positions consistently advocated by the MDA in multilateral fora such as the BRICS and the G20. These include the defense of inclusive technological development, South–South cooperation, the role of public policy in reducing inequalities in access to innovation, and the strategic importance of family farming for food security, sustainable development, and resilient agri-food systems.

The success of the event was made possible through the joint efforts of the Ministry of Agrarian Development and Family Farming (MDA), the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa), and the National Supply Company (Conab). Together, these institutions demonstrated the value of coordinated public action in fostering innovation and strengthening family farming in Brazil.

The First National Fair of Machinery and Technologies for Family Farming stands as a milestone in the country’s commitment to inclusive technological development, reaffirming that innovation — when aligned with public policy and social inclusion — is a impactful tool for transforming rural territories and building a more sustainable future.

By Gabriel Leão

International Advisory Office

Ministry of Agrarian Development and Family Farming (MDA)