“The most assertive way to innovate is in a systemic way…”
Tatiana Fiuza is the CEO of Cocriagro and director of innovation at Rural Society of the State of Paraná, a journalist from the Catholic University of Brasília, and M.Sc. from the State University of Maringá and the State University of Londrina.
Tatiana Fiuza, CEO of Cocriagro
AgriBrasilis – Are agricultural companies innovating?
Tatiana Fiuza – Yes, agribusiness companies, like other sectors, recognize that innovation is a strategic necessity. That is why we are working with them and increasingly focusing on Open Innovation initiatives.
AgriBrasilis – How is it possible to innovate assertively and what is the cost of the innovation?
Tatiana Fiuza – The most assertive way to innovate is in a systemic way. In other words, it is by creating an Innovation Management System in the company or cooperative.
Regarding costs, I always say that it depends on what the company or cooperative wants to build. For those who are just starting out, we suggest lower budgets. For those who already have many projects, the budgets can be higher. There is no standard. It will depend on what the company wants.
“Companies that seek open innovation have already understood that they need to innovate quickly and accurately”
AgriBrasilis – Is it possible to innovate beyond “tech”?
Tatiana Fiuza – It is certainly possible to innovate beyond “tech”. Many companies are innovating beyond technology, especially in processes.
Here at Cocriagro, for example, we have been working on innovation “journeys”. In this way, we help companies and agricultural cooperatives to create their innovation management systems, through processes and actions. Our methodology involves ISO 56002:2019. In this way, we are able to ensure a more efficient performance.
Our goal is to boost innovation, competitiveness, and sustainability of agribusiness companies and cooperatives by connecting them with startups and research institutes to create or absorb innovative and effective solutions.
We have many projects under development through the innovation “journeys”. For example, the innovation journey created for Sicoob Ouro Verde is already connecting with startups. We also have a specific journey with Adama. For Cooperativa Integrada, for example, we are working with our Projects Office (Escritório de Projetos), which aims to help companies and cooperatives raise funds for innovation.
AgriBrasilis – What is “Open Innovation” and what are its benefits for agricultural companies?
Tatiana Fiuza – Open innovation was a concept created by Henry Chesbrough, which states that companies can and should innovate through external interactions. In practice, this means that innovation inputs are not always found in internal laboratories or only in the company’s leadership: there may be good ideas that will result in innovation coming from other companies, such as startups, or from institutions, such as research institutes or universities. Companies that seek open innovation have already understood that they need to innovate quickly and accurately.
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