Interpreting global markets for on-farm decision-making

RaboResearch senior analyst, Vitor Pistoia.

While Australian farmers may be a world away from conflict zones, or northern hemisphere climatic events, such incidents can weigh heavily at the farm gate.

And with worrisome uncertainty currently dominating much of the global stage, all eyes are on experts such as RaboResearch’s senior analyst, Vitor Pistoia.

A Brazilian native, Vitor has crafted a career providing primary producers with insights and research that can help support their decision-making, and never are his findings more valuable than during times of volatility.

“From how energy production impacts oil prices, which weighs on costs of farm inputs and commodities – conflicts such as what we’re seeing in the Middle East have a direct impact on our Australian farmers and their planting and production decisions,” Vitor explains. “My role is to analyse the situation and best inform our clients to help them make informed decisions when it comes to navigating these challenges, or opportunities, across their own operations.”

Having managed his own small livestock operation in Southern Brazil whilst working for in procurement and agronomy for a major corporate brewing company, trading inputs and soy beans, this trained agronomist brings a unique depth of both knowledge and experience to his role.

“I see things differently, and am not afraid to ask the questions that tell the story from a different angle, perhaps the fact that I’m not Australian gives me an advantage challenging things – I have no local bias, I work with the market facts presented to me.”

“My role at RaboResearch is to tell the story in a way that is compelling and relevant to farm management decisions – I like charts, I like to check numbers and play around with modelling, and I like to be confident sharing that story with clients and industry.”
 

Vitor with clients from NSW’s Moree region, David Clyne, Mitch Buster, AMPS Agribusiness, David Gourlay, and Brendan Smith.

The challenge of deciphering the impact of ever-evolving geopolitics and global markets on local producers does, he admits, keep him up at night.

It’s also what gets him out of bed each day.

“I thoroughly enjoy this role, it constantly keeps me on my toes – how price responds to supply and demand, and how that’s influenced by media, geopolitics and seasons, it’s a constantly shifting puzzle.”

While his corporate trading career afforded Vitor an opportunity to travel the world and experience a variety of agricultural industries, his RaboResearch role now takes him to all corners of Australia.

“Whether travelling globally or nationally, I love to get out and build my skill set – whether it’s ‘soft’ skills such as learning to speak Spanish, or building genuine expertise through understanding a local region’s soil type and climate, I’m always looking to expand my knowledge.”

“Every time I visit a different crop belt it helps me understand, and correlate that information for my reports or presentations, knowledge is power, and I’m grateful that in this role I have the freedom to travel, meet people, and ultimately tell the story.” 

RaboResearch team pave global knowledge

The real value of Rabobank’s RaboResearch arm – comprised of over 90 specialist food and agriculture analysts worldwide – is, Vitor believes, the team’s commitment to quality research, and quality analysis.

“We’re not tied to a product, and we don’t engage in the banking side of the business – we are unbiased, our whole purpose is to deliver insights and knowledge to support farmers on the ground.”

“I like to deliver information the way I’d like to receive it – and at times global analysis can risk becoming far too complex, so it’s my job to balance that, and deliver something that is meaningful at the farm gate.”

While acknowledging that public speaking does not come naturally, Vitor has travelled rural and regional Australia presenting his latest market updates and insights, and releases specialised RaboResearch reports that regularly deep-dive into the local and global industry’s current state of affairs – and the repercussions for local producers.

“We want to help farmers make good decisions as opposed to give advice, so we need to make sure our analysis and research is the very best.
 

Presenting global insights directly to farmers in the Gurley Hall, North West NSW.

Having team members based across the globe helped strengthen RaboResearch data.

“It’s hugely reassuring to be able to sound check my findings with people on the ground in different countries, and whether it’s meaningful and accurate.”

“This shared knowledge also gives me further confidence to speak on global markets.”

He believes his background in farming also gives him an additional perspective when preparing his reports.

“I grew up in the city but leased a plot from a friend, it was a sideline gig, but it gave me the skin in the game as to what it is to be a farmer – the risks, the markets, the seasons. I have a great appreciation and affinity for our hard working clients.”

Always to the point, Vitor doesn’t hesitate – nor concern himself with risking offence – when posed with which is his favourite Australian region.

It’s unequivocally Esperance, citing the region’s agricultural offering, right on the doorstep of some of Australia’s most picturesque coastline and beaches. 

And despite his global career, Vitor, who moved to Sydney with his wife for the RaboResearch role four years ago, is now expecting his first child – and Australia is feeling more like home than ever. 
 

Vitor on the ground in South Australia with Craig Davis, Crop Consulting Services, Kaidy Morgan, Hart Field-Site Group, and Dr Matthew Knowling, Adelaide University.