Eliseu Alves and the modern agriculture of Brazil

Abstract

This paper debates on the modernization of Brazilian agriculture, the construction process of the sector's national innovation system, and the competitive insertion of Brazil in the international market of agricultural goods. Between economics and pragmatism, the institutional organization of this successful agriculture trajectory depended on the efforts of many people. However, its implementation required the leadership of a visionary researcher: Eliseu Alves, a man ahead of his time. He dared to dream and to creatively think of a new agriculture. He faced resistances. However, wherever he has worked, he left his legacy. He transformed agricultural research through induced institutional innovation. He contributed to the formation of a generation of researchers and created the modern science and technology system of the Brazilian agricultural sector. Eliseu contributed to the tropical agriculture development which expanded the supply of agricultural goods, decreased the relative price of food, and preserved the environment.