On August 21, 2025, the Brazil Program at the Inter-American Dialogue hosted a roundtable on traceability, a central issue that has been shaping the future of agricultural production and trade. Beyond sanitary monitoring, it has evolved into a strategic infrastructure for global markets, ensuring transparency, compliance with sustainability standards, and credibility for both producers and consumers.
The conversation featured Ivan Bergier, senior researcher at the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa), who presented technological advances in network-based traceability systems and digital integration tools; Mariana Fontalvo, veterinary inspector at Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA), who outlined the National Program for Individual Identification of Cattle and Buffaloes (PNIB); Fábio Montossi, senior researcher at the National Institute for Agricultural Research of Uruguay (INIA Uruguay), who detailed Uruguay’s integrated meat traceability system; Marcelo Secco, CEO of Marfrig Uruguay, who presented how the meat industry leverages Uruguay’s traceability system to add value and meet global market standards; and Gabriel Serber, vice president of social impact and sustainable development (ESG) at Arcos Dorados, who analyzed the role of the private sector in implementing sustainable and deforestation-free supply chains. The conversation was moderated by the Brazil Program senior associate Giulia Branco Spiess.
The discussion focused on Brazil’s path toward building a robust cattle traceability system, highlighting key challenges and recommendations. It considers the contributions of public and private initiatives, the role of scientific and technological innovation, and insights from Uruguay, a neighboring country that has achieved full implementation of individual cattle traceability.
This roundtable is part of a broader initiative led by the Brazil Program in partnership with Embrapa, Marfrig, Arcos Dorados, Harvard Business School (HBS), and WWF Brazil, focused on promoting sustainable agriculture in Latin America and contributing to the agenda of COP30. The initiative includes a series of high-level dialogues that will inform policy papers to be launched at Casa Diálogo, our exclusive venue in Belém, Brazil, during COP30.
