San José, 24 September 2025 (IICA) – In the municipality of Inhumas in the state of Goiás, in the Central-Western region of Brazil, Gessyane Ribeiro’s life is intricately tied to family farming. The daughter of farmers, Gessyane is now an agricultural engineer and farmer who has become an influential young figure that champions a productive, sustainable, innovative and deeply human countryside.
The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) has recognized Ribeiro as a Leader of Rurality of the Americas in recognition of her commitment to rural communities and women’s leadership in particular.
The young Brazilian will receive the “Soul of Rurality” award, which is part of an initiative by the Institute to turn the spotlight on those who are leaving a mark and making a difference in the rural areas of the Americas, making a key contribution to the planet’s food and nutritional security and its environmental sustainability.
A life born in the countryside
“I am Gessyane Ribeiro from Goiás, and I currently work on projects related to family farming and agroecology in my region, promoting sustainable practices and agricultural innovation”, she says. Her simple introduction reflects a life that combines rural roots with a university education, and that looks to the future.
Ribeiro proudly recounts that she has always lived in the countryside and been connected to the land. “I was born and raised in a rural area, with a strong connection to agricultural activities and family farming. My family consists of my parents, who were also involved in agriculture, and I have strong ties to my family and community”, she adds.
That early bond led her to choose a career in agricultural engineering. “I decided to study agronomy because I have always been interested in the countryside and in improving agricultural practices. I studied at the university and am now applying the knowledge I acquired in the development of projects that promote agroecology, sustainability and innovation in family farming, helping small-scale producers to carry out their activities in a more efficient and sustainable way”.
Her life is, as she describes it, a meeting of two worlds: practical knowledge that was passed down for many generations and technical tools acquired at the university. “Living between these two worlds”, she explains, “has allowed be to combine traditional knowledge, based on experiences in the field, with the modern and scientific techniques I learned through formal education”.
Gessyane emphasizes that this combination “enriches agricultural practices, makes development more sustainable, and keeps local culture alive, while incorporating technological innovation”.
In fact, one of Ribeiro’s future projects involves promoting typical fruits from Brazil’s Cerrado ecoregion, such as pequi (the most traditional fruit in the state of Goiás and a key ingredient in a typical dish that also includes rice and free-range chicken), chestnuts, passion fruit and cagaíta, which is native to the Brazilian tropical savanna.
All these ingredients are currently regaining prominence in Brazilian cuisine. For Gessyane, it’s a full circle moment: as a child she was fascinated by the dishes her aunt prepared with these fruits, and now that she’s older, she’s taking advantage of this boom to promote business opportunities for producers in the region.
Gessyane capitalizes on her expertise to help small-scale farmers carry out their activities in a more efficient and sustainable manner.
Female leadership and family farming
Gessyane serves as Technical Coordinator of the Energia das Mulheres da Terra project, which brings together 42 women farmers’ organizations and promotes social technologies adapted to rural communities. “In my work, I support family farming, promote agroecological practices, value traditional knowledge, and seek sustainable alternatives”, explains the engineer. “My goal is to strengthen rural communities, improve productivity and guarantee food security”, she adds.
Her leadership played a key role in introducing innovative solutions such as the sertanejo biodigester (an innovative device that transforms organic waste and animal manure into biogas for cooking and nutritious biofertilizer for the soil), cisterns for rainwater harvesting, agroecological fish tanks, soil moisture sensors, and solar pumps.
Ribeiro explained that the project’s promoters “seek to introduce sustainable technologies and innovations that help save resources, produce healthier food, protect the environment, and drive the inclusion of local producers in the technical-scientific arena”.
“My main goal”, says the agricultural engineer, “is local development”, watching “the community produce its own food” and improve its quality of life. “For me”, Ribeiro explains, “family farming, local development and quality of life are all linked”. She adds that “family farming is not just a business”, but also the fabric of communities, a link to “tradition and traditional knowledge” that helps to “produce high-quality, healthy food”.
Female leadership and family farming
Among Gessyane’s favorite devices are solar pumps, which use solar energy to extract water from wells, rivers, or reservoirs. In communities where access to electricity is limited and water is vital for production, this innovation makes a difference.
Solar pumps, Gessyane points out, are essential to supply rural communities with water and reduce dependence on conventional energy. This technology “guarantees water access for families and crops, contributing to the sustainability and autonomy of these communities”.
Gessyane has become an influential young figure that champions a productive, sustainable, innovative and deeply human countryside.
The landscape and life in Goiás
The connection to the land is a part of everyday life for Gessyane. “The region where I live has a diverse landscape, with rivers, crops and lots of vegetation. Life in the countryside, surrounded by nature and carrying out diversified food production, is peaceful, and its natural beauty is fascinating”.
Her love of rural life has also defined her life choices. “I am very happy to be a woman from the countryside: I love the tranquility, the connection to nature, the opportunity to do what I love and make a difference in my community”.
Does Gessyane miss anything about the city? Only “easy access to technology and services”. She notes, however, that the “beauty and peace” of the countryside is “unparalleled”.
Like other young rural leaders in Latin America, Gessyane is aware that the future of the countryside will largely depend on its ability to attract the younger generations. And she has a clear message for those who are unsure whether to stay in the countryside or migrate to cities: “I definitely recommend that young people consider a life in the countryside. Although it poses some challenges, it offers a true connection with nature and an opportunity to do what you love for work and to contribute to healthier and more sustainable food production. It is a life full of learning, resilience and satisfaction”.
Ribeiro’s story echoes that of her peers—a generation that is reinventing what rural life in Latin America looks like. From agroecology and technological innovation, to the defense of family farming and female empowerment, her leadership is a testament to the fact that the countryside is no longer just resisting, but transforming and setting its sights on the future.
Between rivers and agricultural communities in Goiás, Gessyane continues to plant much more than just food: she is planting hope, autonomy and dignity for rural women in Brazil.
Gessyane’s leadership played a key role in introducing innovative solutions such as the sertanejo biodigester (an innovative device that transforms organic waste and animal manure into biogas for cooking and nutritious biofertilizer for the soil), cisterns for rainwater harvesting, agroecological fish tanks, soil moisture sensors, and solar pumps.
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Institutional Communication Division.
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