The Graduate School of Business at Universidad ORT Uruguay the webinar “The Agricultural Export Sector and the Pandemic,” a forum to understand how the sector is coping with this crisis and what strategies it is adopting for the future.
The agro-export sector has always played a leading role in Uruguay, and therefore its current situation is a matter of national concern. While the arrival of the coronavirus has affected each productive sector differently, the impact is evident across the board.
Global supply and demand have shifted. Faced with this reality, the agro-export sector has had to develop response strategies, address workers’ needs, mitigate the impacts on companies, and prepare for the imminent new normal that is approaching.
In this context, and to understand how these times of emergency are being addressed, the Graduate School of Business at Universidad ORT Uruguay the videoconference “The Agro-Export Sector and the Pandemic.” The event featured leaders from the meat, agriculture, and forestry sectors, as well as a panelist who provided an economic perspective on the situation.
The speakers’ analysis was based on the 3R process (response, reactivation, and reimagination) in the face of the pandemic’s shock. First, the leaders discussed how they responded to this new reality; then they explained how they planned and executed the reactivation of companies and sectors; and finally, they detailed how they are reimagining the future in light of the impact of the COVID-19 crisis in Uruguay and around the world.
The event, which took place on May 21, 2020, was part of the Management and Business Lecture Series.
“We don’t have any foreign demand”
The conference began with a presentation by Elizabeth Misa, director of Frigorífico Las Moras (located in La Paz, Canelones). Misa explained that the arrival of COVID-19 came as a shock to the industry and that, while they are trying to cope with the situation as best they can, the reality is complex: “The industry’s main objective is often to be competitive abroad, and right now, we have no foreign demand, ”she said.
However, the director of Frigorífico Las Moras has her sights set on the future and on creating strategies to face what lies ahead: “We are preparing for a future that will be different, because there has been a shift in people ’s perceptions and consumption patterns,” she stated.
Positive aspects of the reaction
Francisco Bonino, director of Agroempresa Forestal, was the second speaker at the conference. Bonino explained that, amid this new reality, the forestry sector has managed to identify certain signs that may be positive, given that it had previously faced difficult times: “During the reaction phase, we found positive aspects that helped the forestry sector.”
In addition, Bonino highlighted how well Agroempresa Forestal adapted to remote work and explained that it had already been implemented before, albeit to a lesser extent.
The Problem as an Opportunity
Ramón Erro, director of Erro and Corporación Maquinaria, continued the conference as the final representative of the agricultural export sector. Erro explained that the onset of the coronavirus led to the suspension of international travel and major events. However, he remained optimistic despite the challenging circumstances: “We must try to view the problem as an opportunity, ”he said.
Furthermore, Erro explained the importance of technology in addressing the complexity of these times: “The path forward for this new scenario was to develop technological tools, ”he noted.
Uruguay: The Context and the Private Sector
To conclude the videoconference, Javier de Haedo, an economist and professor at ORT, shared his perspective on the economic landscape. The economist analyzed Uruguay’s situation and highlighted its positive performance amid a complex regional context.
De Haedo also explained the importance of the private sector in the near economic future: “Governments must strive to prepare the private sector to help revive the economy, ”he said.