Agribusiness in Focus: Global Positioning and the Investment Case

​September 22, 2026 | 8:30 AM–12:00 PM
Vinson & Elkins – The Grace Building
1114 Avenue of the Americas, 32nd Floor, New York City

​Brazil is already one of the world’s leading food and commodity producers. The next opportunity is to position its agricultural sector not only as a production powerhouse, but as a strategic destination for global capital.

​During Climate Week NYC 2026, AYA Earth Partners will convene business leaders, investors, financial institutions and sector experts for a morning of high-level conversations on the forces shaping the future of Brazilian agribusiness.

​Across three sessions, the programme will examine how Brazil can transform its productive capacity, natural assets and established biofuels industry into investable opportunities—while strengthening resilience, improving risk allocation and responding to the demands of global markets.

​Programme

​8:30–9:00 AM | Opening Keynote*

​A strategic perspective on Brazil’s role in the future of global food, agriculture and the low-carbon economy.

​9:00–10:00 AM | Food Systems as an Asset Class

​Connecting Brazilian Agribusiness to Global Food Security and Investment Flows

​Brazilian agribusiness accounts for approximately 23% of the country’s GDP and plays a central role in global food security. Yet productive land, logistics and the ecosystem services associated with agriculture are still not consistently structured and valued as investable assets.

​This panel will explore what is needed for institutional investors to approach Brazilian food systems as a recurring asset allocation—alongside sectors such as energy and infrastructure.

​Confirmed speakers include:

• ​Edson Higo - CEO, AYA Earth Partners

• ​Caio Carvalho - Special Envoy Agri COP30 & VP ABAG

• ​Carolina Carregaro - Director of Public Affairs, Nestlé

• ​André Guimarães - Executive Director, IPAM

​10:00–11:00 AM | Insuring the Transition

​Risk Mechanisms as a Catalyst for Low-Carbon Investment

​Climate risk increasingly determines whether capital can enter an asset, a region or an entire value chain. In Brazil, the significant gap between economic losses and insurance coverage remains a major constraint on agricultural resilience and investment.

​This session will examine how insurance, reinsurance and innovative risk mechanisms can move beyond managing losses to actively enabling investment in resilient infrastructure, regenerative agriculture and low-carbon assets.

​Confirmed speakers include:

• ​Rafael Toledo - Senior Partner, Vinson & Elkins

• ​Claudia Prates - Sustainability Director, CNSeg

• ​Taciano Custódio - Sustainability Director LATAM, Rabobank

• ​Butch Bacani - Head of Insurance, UNEP FI

​11:00 AM–12:00 PM | Refining Brazil’s Advantage

​Biofuels and the Global Fuel Transition

​Brazil has built one of the world’s most established biofuels industries over five decades. With a mature ethanol and biodiesel market, an extensive biomass base and an evolving policy framework, the country is well positioned to lead the next generation of low-carbon fuels.

​The panel will discuss what is required to convert Brazil’s domestic scale and technical expertise into global leadership—particularly in sustainable aviation fuel.

​Confirmed speakers include:

• ​Victoria Prado - Senior Research Associate, Columbia

• ​Eduardo Fonseca - Director Corporate Affairs, EHS & Sustainability, Inpasa

• ​Caio Carvalho - Special Envoy Agri COP30 & VP ABAG

• ​Eduardo Bastos - CEO, Instituto Equilíbrio feedstock availability and responsible land-use standards

​Why Attend?

​This event is designed for investors, business leaders, financial institutions, policymakers and professionals working across agriculture, food systems, insurance, energy and climate finance.

​Participants will gain a clearer view of:

• ​the investment opportunities emerging from Brazilian agribusiness;

• ​the financial and risk mechanisms required to unlock capital at scale;

• ​Brazil’s potential role in global food and energy security;

• ​the sectors and business models shaping the country’s low-carbon transition.

​Convened by AYA Earth Partners in partnership with Invest RS and Nestlé, with the support of Vinson & Elkins, ABAG, Instituto Equilíbrio and FIEPA.

​Join us in New York for a practical, investment-oriented discussion on how Brazil can translate its agricultural strengths into global relevance, resilience and long-term value.

​Register to attend.

​*Programme and speakers subject to final confirmation.