Few companies have been as important to Brazil’s agribusiness as Embrapa, the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation. Created in 1972, during some of the hardest years of the military dictatorship, the company has been instrumental in transforming Brazil from a food importer into one of the world’s leading agricultural powers.
Developing the use of microorganisms to capture nitrogen to nourish plants — thus avoiding excessive use of fertilizers – is just one such example of the company’s noteworthy accomplishments. With the help of Embrapa, Brazil became one of the world’s top beef producers, the country lowered prices for basic foods,...
