Maria Teresa Silva

Revolutionized agricultural practices in Brazil through her agroecology movement, empowering small farmers

Maria Teresa Silva is a Brazilian agroecologist and social entrepreneur whose work has transformed farming practices across South America. Founder of the Agroecologia Sul network (2019), she developed the 'Seed Democracy' initiative that has distributed over 200 million native seeds to smallholder farmers, reducing reliance on industrial agriculture. Her community seed banks now operate in 14 Brazilian states and Paraguay.

Through her 'Eco-Schools Program', Silva has trained 15,000+ farmers in regenerative techniques that increased crop yields by 40% while restoring degraded lands. Her 2021 'Amazon Food Sovereignty Plan' created alternative markets for indigenous crops, preventing deforestation by making native agriculture economically viable. The initiative was highlighted in Nature Magazine and recognized by the 2023 Global Sustainability Awards.

Her innovative 'Farmer-to-Farmer' digital platform connects 50,000+ producers with urban consumers, cutting food waste by 25%. Silva's advocacy led to Brazil's 2022 Agroecology Law, mandating 30% of school meals to come from agroecological sources. She currently advises the UN FAO on climate-resilient agriculture strategies, having presented at COP26 and COP27.