19 February 2026
Proforest and GIZ’s SAFE Programme launched the study: Navigating Human Rights Compliance in Brazil’s Agricultural Sector
On 12 February 2026, Proforest, with support from GIZ’s SAFE Programme, launched the study “Navigating Human Rights Compliance in Brazil’s Agricultural Sector: A discussion on the gaps and opportunities to strengthen public platforms and meet global demands.”
The study analyses how public platforms can contribute to human rights compliance and monitoring in agricultural supply chains. It offers practical recommendations to reinforce the social dimension of the Plataforma AgroBrasil + Sustentável (AB+S), while also reflecting on the role of Brazil’s agricultural sector in advancing the human rights agenda and aligning with emerging international requirements.
The publication was launched during a webinar hosted by Proforest, which brought together over 100 participants from civil society, public institutions, the EU Delegation in Brazil, and the private sector. Eduardo Albuquerque, from Proforest, presented the study’s key findings and recommendations. His presentation was followed by a panel discussion with Lara de Souza, General Coordinator for Plant Production at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA), and Pedro Garcia, Sustainability Manager at the Brazilian Association of Vegetable Oil Industries (ABIOVE). The speakers shared their reflections on the study, their expectations for the AB+S Platform, and their perspectives on how diverse actors can contribute to strengthening the human rights agenda in Brazil’s agricultural sector.
The webinar closed with remarks from Rita Walraf, First Secretary for Sustainable Development and Forestry Cooperation at the German Embassy, who emphasised that strengthening sustainability, transparency, and respect for human rights is essential to ensure dignified working conditions, protect local, traditional, and Indigenous communities, and preserve ecosystems. She congratulated the human rights study, noting that it provides essential evidence and technical inputs to enhance public policies such as the AgroBrasil+Sustentável Platform, and expressed hope that the discussions will inspire new actions and partnerships toward increasingly fair, sustainable, and resilient agricultural supply chains.
Advancing the human rights agenda in Brazil’s agricultural sector will require coordinated engagement among government agencies, companies, sectoral platforms, and civil society to promote more transparent and responsible production. We hope this study offers valuable technical foundations to support these discussions and, most importantly, drive positive change in Brazil’s agricultural sector.
Access the materials below:
