Who are the people featured in Farming Insider: Carla Rossato, José Rossato & Fábio Roberto?

Carla Rossato, José Rossato and Fábio Roberto.

What is the Rossato family farm called and where is it located?

The Rossato & Filhas family farm in Sertanópolis, Paraná, Brazil.

What does Carla say about being a farmer?

Carla says farming is her life and she never had any doubts about becoming a farmer.

How does José describe his involvement with the farm and Carla's role today?

José says he always knew he would be a farmer; he thanks God for his path, and notes that Carla now manages almost 100% of the family farm with their support.

What challenge related to the next generation is highlighted in the article?

The biggest difficulty with the generational shift is navigating changes with the older generation and building a process of succession.

Which crops are cultivated on the Rossato farm?

Soybeans in summer and corn in winter.

Close to farmers:
#ThinkingInGenerations

Farming Insider: Carla Rossato, José Rossato & Fábio Roberto

About Carla Sanches Rossato, José Rossato und Fábio Roberto

Family-run farm where three generations work together.

The family business “Rossato & Filhas” encompasses five plots of land, the first of which was bought by company founder José in 1977. Since then, the family has focused on growing soybeans in summer, corn in winter, and raising cattle. Under José’s daughter Carla, the total area of the farm has grown to over 1,200 hectares. Together with her nephew Fábio, Carla is adapting the business, using precision farming and modern technology to meet the challenges of the future.

Farm facts

Location: Sertanópolis, State of Paraná, Brazil

Crops cultivated: soy, corn

Special features: Carla Sanches Rossato is an influential voice in Brazilian agriculture. In 2019 she won the Agro Women Award in the category of large-scale land ownership, becoming an ambassador for it the following year. On Instagram, the qualified veterinarian has 15,000 followers.

I am so proud that with farming, my family continues something I love to this day.

José Roberto Rossato, Brazil

Question time

Carla and José, quite often when we ask farmers about their passion for their work, they tell us with conviction that they have never had any doubts since childhood about wanting to take up the profession. How do you stand on that?

Carla: Certainly, farming is my life. I never had any doubts. I see that everyone reaches stages in their life where they have doubts, but I never felt like that. I never wanted to be anything but a farmer.”
José: Ever since I was a child, I knew that one day I would be a farmer. From the moment I got into farming, I never thought of doing anything else. Thank God I did – and my daughter Carla manages almost 100 % of the family farm with our support.

Was that a logical step for you when you look back over your career, Carla?

Carla: Yes, it was natural for me to take over because I always supported my parents in their business. I always say that I learned to walk by holding on to the hem of my father’s trousers. Now, I manage the family business “Rossato & Filhas”. I graduated in 1999, and in 2000 I started working on the farm on a daily basis, with my father in charge for another five or six years.
Then gradually the roles started to reverse automatically, and now my parents are the ones who support me at work.

Did this generational shift take place without any problems for you?

Carla: The biggest difficulty I had with the generational shift was with my father, because of the changes it led to. Here I learned that we as a younger generation can’t just come in and impose our ideas. As successors, we come along and talk to the older people. We need to find a way to show them our visions.

And what challenges will you face in the future?

Carla: For us, the challenge in farming is to prepare and build a process of succession. Thank goodness I already have my nephew Fabio Roberto today, who works passionately and willingly in the family business. I try to pass on to him the values that my parents gave me back then.

Three different generations, three different perspectives on agriculture. Despite certain hardships and challenges in your job, what are you proud of?

Fábio: The turning point in my life was when my wife and I had our first child. Suddenly, I started to not only act in the here and now, but to do things with the future in mind. If there is a chance for my children to be here while I work, plant, and harvest, I bring them with me. This way, they can learn to like something from an early age – just as I was able to with my father.
José: I am so proud to have a family like mine – and that with farming, they continue something I love to this day.
Carla: I am very grateful for the fact that the business raised me, strengthened me and made me who I am today.

Paving the way. For a fruitful tomorrow.

Farm life is often characterized by family cohesion and traditions that have grown over decades. Around the world, many generations live and work on farms under one roof, and at some point the question of farm succession comes up. Our new Farmer Portraits focus on this generational change that many farmers are facing. Young and old alike - we visited farmers on their farms to have them tell us about their stories, their challenges and their hopes.

A farmer sits on a chair in a barn, wearing a cap and a blue shirt, with farming equipment visible in the background.

Todd, Jared and Cole Vis, USA

“My wish for the future of the family farm is that it will still be run well in the fifth, sixth, and seventh generation.”

A man and a baby are sitting in a blue tractor, surrounded by logs and trees. The scene depicts a rural setting.

Arco Van Triest, Netherlands

“This farm has been running since 1900, and now my children are here.“

A man smiles while holding a young boy on his lap. They are seated outdoors with greenery in the background.

Adem Biçici, Turkey

“When I go out into the fields with my grandson, I see myself reflected in his curiosity.“

Two men examining a leafy plant in a large green field. The landscape features rows of crops under a clear sky.

Brian Ryberg, USA

“I think the feeling of being part of something greater has always been important to me.“

Portrait of a man with a short beard, wearing a black polo shirt with yellow accents, sitting at a wooden table indoors.

Šandor Sabo junior, Croatia

“Whatever problems we are facing, we solve them together. For me, family is all about cohesion.“

A man with glasses sits on a wooden bench in front of a brick wall. A small decorative item is placed on the table beside him.

Atila Sabo, Croatia

“Every morning, my brother and I agree what we want to do during the day, what our duties are. So we share the work and have passed on this structure to our children in the same way.“

A family walks together along a path in a field, surrounded by crops and trees. They wear matching shirts and hats.

Carla, Fábio and José Rossato, Brazil

“I never had any doubts; I never wanted to be anything but a farmer.”

Dimitar sits in an office chair, smiling while wearing a white shirt and green overalls. Papers and a calculator are on the desk.

Dimitar Vukudinov, Bulgaria

”Working with your own father means that you always have a wiser man with you to support you and look up to.”

Portrait of a middle-aged man with short hair, wearing a black shirt, smiling softly against a softly lit background.

Rodolfo Cura, Argentina

“The farm is everything to me. Working in agriculture is the greatest way to do what I love. For me, the farm means freedom.”

Heidi, a farmer from Belgium, sits in a bright room with a bouquet of roses on the table behind her.

Heidi Verschelde, Belgium

"I think the next generation is showing a keen sense for the importance of nature."

A farmer interacts with a wooden gate in a garden, while another person stands behind him near a car.

Ievhenii Bondarchuk, Ukraine

"If you want to be a farmer, you can’t learn that in an institute. It’s something you have to be born with."

A man and a woman smile at each other while holding tomatoes in a greenhouse filled with plants. They appear to be enjoying their time together.

Luigi Torri, Italy

“I hope my sons will pass on the love and respect for the earth and all the values I taught them.”

A hand reaches out to touch ripe wheat stalks in a field. The golden grains are ready for harvest.

Paweł Strzemiecki, Poland

“This love of farming, of the farming tradition, goes back generations in our family.”

A woman with long hair smiles while standing in front of a blue vehicle in a garage setting.

Emma F., UK

“It would be great if one day the sixth or seventh generation of our family runs the farm.“

Aerial view of Rowles Farm, featuring buildings, vehicles, and surrounding green fields. The landscape includes trees and pathways.

Peter Carlisle, UK

“Teamwork is the most important thing on our farm. Everyone does a little bit of everything. If we weren't a team, our business wouldn't be as successful as it is today.“

Young man in a brown hoodie stands in a field with dust clouds from farming equipment in the background.

Henning & Arne Beecken, Germany

“The feeling of wanting to continue the work on the farm has grown day by day since childhood.“

A cornfield with neatly arranged rows stretches towards a distant tree line and houses under a clear blue sky.

Emanuele Bortoli, Italy

“Reliability and respect form the foundation for how we deal with one another. These are values I`ve always held in high esteem.“

Farmer Francis stands beside a blue agricultural machine in a grassy field. The tractor is equipped for planting or cultivating crops.

Francis Bapst, Switzerland

“For me, the most important values are respect for nature, understanding our consumers and food production.”

Hands examining a plant with roots and leaves in a field. The focus is on the interaction between two individuals.

Toni & Daniel Peterhans, Switzerland

”Spirit and passion are what leads to success, whether it's in farming or on the football pitch.”

A child holds hands with an adult in a barn, carrying a small tool. Cows are visible in the background.

Riccardo Casarotto, Italy

”Independence is a dream that we should all cultivate and pursue. Dreams are there to come true and to help you progress.”

A blue tractor is parked near a large brick farm building with multiple roofs and a landscaped area. The setting is rural and well-maintained.

Stephan Jansen, Belgium

”I look forward to waking up every day and being able to work with nature.”

A woman stands in a cornfield, surrounded by tall green plants and a mountainous landscape in the background.

Gizem Anar, Turkey

”People should love what they do, and I love farming. I enjoy looking after animals, plants and nature and try to feel connected to them!.”

A close-up of a calf with an ear tag, surrounded by other cows in a pasture. The calf has a calm expression.

Adrian Knuchel, Switzerland

”For me, team spirit means being able to live and work together. It means ongoing exchange, taking each other, mutual ideas and suggestions seriously.”

A man holds a ginger cat while standing next to a tractor in a farm setting. The scene conveys a connection between the farmer and his pet.

Gürkan Ilhan, Turkey

”People who work in agriculture, cultivating crops, rearing livestock and working on the land, accumulate positive memories day after day.”

Aerial view of a farmhouse surrounded by neatly trimmed hedges and a garden, with a driveway leading to the property.

René Vermue, Netherlands

”Team spirit and reliability are hugely important in both my personal life and my working life – be it with colleagues, employees, or in dealings with other farmers.”