Sophia Thanasouras, a senior majoring in agricultural business management, recently earned a scholarship to attend the Women in Agribusiness Summit in Orlando, FL. A limited number of scholarships are awarded each year to undergraduate and graduate students to attend this prestigious event. Jeremy Beach, associate director of the Renk Agribusiness Institute, asked Thanasouras about her experience at the event.

What was the purpose of the conference and how were you given the opportunity to attend?

Women in Agribusiness is an international group of women from different sectors of agribusiness who hold conferences in hopes of creating and maintaining connections. Each year, around 20 undergraduate, masters and PhD students are selected to receive a scholarship through one of the conference’s sponsors. The scholarship allows the student to attend the event and covers their entry fee to the summit as well as their lodging. 

What are some of your highlights from the conference?

Over the three days we got to join student events hosted by Cargill and Syngenta. These were casual meals where we could meet women from the companies and ask questions. I received really helpful advice about career paths, roles and areas in agribusiness to explore.

Another highlight was the keynotes, panels and breakout sessions that I attended throughout the summit. Each of them was incredibly insightful and gave me new ways to think about what’s happening in the industry.

One of my favorite parts was the off-site dinner on the last night. There was live music, dancing and time to really connect with people in a more relaxed setting. On the bus ride I met three women working in procurement which is exactly the area I want to pursue after graduation. It was so great to meet women that I could look up to in those roles.

What’s an example of something you learned and will take with you going forward?

A very common theme running throughout the entirety of the conference was adaptability. I learned so much about the current state of agribusiness. For instance, the US has not recently sold a single bushel of soybeans to China despite being our largest trading partner by far in the soybean industry. I also learned that the rise of GLP-1 has led to a shift in consumer preferences in grocery stores, and how countries like Brazil are stepping into a larger role in global food trade as the U.S. begins to pull back.

While these current events can seem threatening, the best way to combat these changes is by being adaptable. The farms that are diversifying their crops, investing in new equipment, and introducing new products to meet consumer preferences are having the most success. I walked away learning that although the sectors of agribusiness will continue to change throughout my career, there will always be solutions and opportunities so long as I’m willing to adapt. 

Would you recommend others attend this conference, and if so, who would be a good fit?

I would highly recommend others attend this conference if possible. Scholarship applications closed mid-July this past year, so I’d suggest keeping an eye out for the application at the start of summer. Regardless of your interests within agribusiness, whether it’s plant genetics, commodity trading, RDI, farming or something else, the conversations throughout the summit cover a well-rounded selection of topics. So long as you are eager to connect with industry professionals and learn about key industry insights, this is the event for you. The summit’s mission is to empower, connect and elevate. If that sounds interesting to you I would highly advise applying.