Guild Member Olivia Midgley embarked on a two week trip to explore agricultural innovation in Brazil as the inaugural winner of the Perkins Global Innovation Scholarship in 2016.
Olivia Midgley, head of News and Business Analysis at Farmers Guardian, visited a number of farms and agricultural businesses during her trip.
The tour included a visit to the Fazenda Jacarezinho beef cattle ranch in Bahia, where agri consultant Chris Ward introduced her to farm manager Barbara Barros (pictured above).
Olivia says: “The Perkins Global Innovation Scholarship gave me the opportunity to travel around Brazil and visit some of the brightest people working in the country’s booming agricultural sector.
“Not only have I returned from the trip with a notebook full of stories and features, but I have also met some great friends who I know I’ll stay in contact with and hopefully visit again in the near future.
“I’d urge all guild members to apply for the scholarship, it was an unforgettable experience.”
Olivia started her visit with a trip to Perkins’ world-class manufacturing plant in Curitiba, Brazil.
The facility has been operational since 2003 and produces Perkins 1100 Series range of mechanical and electronic engines to meet customers’ needs across the Americas region.
Olivia was welcomed to Curitiba by facility manager Wilson Loterio, manufacturing and technical manager Rodrigo Chibior and regional marketing manager for Latin America, Rafael de Souza.
After spending time with the team and learning more about Perkins’ history in Brazil, Olivia was given a tour of the manufacturing facility.
Throughout the tour Olivia was shown the globally consistent manufacturing processes which are implemented at every Perkins facility.
Olivia also learnt more about the agricultural, electric power and construction customers Perkins works with in Latin America and how the facility aligns with its customers’ requirements for local content to be used on the engines.
Perkins regional marketing manager Rafael de Souza said: “The visit was a great opportunity to show Olivia how we actively support our agricultural customers in Brazil and across Latin America.
“From technology integration workshops to applications and installations advice, and guidance on the latest MAR-1 emissions standards in Brazil, our customers are the forefront of everything we do.”
