Center for Agribusiness Studies

The growing digitalization of agribusiness has driven the development of mobile applications for technical support, production management, and decision-making in rural areas. A study sought to identify and analyze the main parameters that determined the success of these solutions, considering technical, usability, market, and business model aspects. The adopted methodology was mixed (quantitative-qualitative), exploratory and descriptive in nature, employing a multiple case study. Six widely used applications in the sector were comparatively analyzed, including Plantix, AgroStar, AgriCentral, Climate FieldView, Aegro, and Solinftec App. Data collection occurred from secondary sources, such as public information made available in app stores and institutional materials from developers. The results showed that applications with greater technical stability, cross-platform compatibility, and the ability to operate in environments with limited connectivity achieved better ratings, with average scores between 4.4 and 4.6, as well as higher user engagement. It was observed that more intuitive interfaces and greater ease of use promoted greater continuous adoption. Additionally, solutions focused on the B2B market, despite presenting a lower download volume, demonstrated high perceived value and greater adherence to the specific needs of the sector. It was concluded that the success of mobile applications in agribusiness depends on the balanced integration of technical quality, usability, and strategic alignment of the business model, contributing significantly to value generation in the context of Agriculture 4.0.

Soybean production in Maranhão has gained relevance in Brazilian agribusiness, driven by the expansion of the agricultural frontier and interaction with the North Arch export corridors, making logistics a central element for product flow. The study analyzed the main logistical challenges faced in the soybean production chain in Maranhão, with an emphasis on storage infrastructure and transportation systems used, seeking to relate production and storage data, characterize the available infrastructure, and identify transportation challenges. The research used secondary data from official institutions and associations through documentary research. A growth of 131.99% in soybean production was observed between the 2014/15 and 2024/25 harvests, while storage capacity grew by 51.69% in the same period. A positive and significant correlation was observed between production and storage capacity (r=0.71; p=0.014; R2=0.50), but the storage/production ratio was below 100% after the 2019/20 harvest, indicating a storage deficit in the state. The road transport mode predominated on precarious highways, despite the railway potential. Soybean exports from the state reached 5,054 thousand tons in 2025, with 71.6% destined for China via the Port of Itaqui. It was concluded that investments in storage, road maintenance, and intermodality are essential for the competitiveness of Maranhão’s soybeans in the national scenario.

The agribusiness sector holds strategic relevance in the Brazilian economy, requiring financial institutions to act with qualification in client prospecting. In this context, we investigated the factors that influence the motivation and performance of sales professionals in financial institutions operating in the agribusiness segment, focusing on the challenges of prospecting and organizational strategies for commercial engagement and effectiveness. The research, of an applied nature and with a descriptive quanti-qualitative approach, was developed through a survey with 40 professionals from financial institutions in the municipality of Cabreúva, São Paulo. Data were collected via a structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results revealed the predominance of intrinsic motivation, linked to competence, purpose, and satisfaction, over extrinsic motivation. It was identified that organizational recognition presented the lowest average among the evaluated factors, indicating gaps in feedback and appreciation. Prospecting in agribusiness proved to be challenging, characterized by bureaucracy, the need for trust-building, the centrality of in-person relationships, and limitations in adopting digital tools. It was concluded that the satisfactory performance of professionals is sustained by intrinsic motivation and adaptation to the sector’s demands, but requires greater institutional support for long-term sustainability.