During International Day for Women and Girls in Science, we’re talking to some of the inspiring women scientists who are making their marks at Nutreco. Gabriela Moura, who works Trouw Nutrition Brazil, talks about how her proudest moment is when her work makes a difference for customers’ animals – and why only animal lovers should join her for Carnival.

Tell us a bit about yourself and your role in Nutreco
I am a trained zootechnician and have worked at Nutreco since 2012. I have always worked in the technical area, looking at different animal species. Today, I am responsible for the Formulation Department at Trouw Nutrition Brazil. I lead a team of four people and today we are responsible for the creation and maintenance of all the products that are produced in our manufacturing plants.

What inspired you to pursue a career in science?
I have always been curious to discover and learn more about everything related to nature, especially animals. As I grew up, I sought a profession that would allow me to have this contact, and today I am very grateful to be able to apply this in my daily life.

Can you share a moment in your career that made you feel especially proud?
I feel proud of the career I chose every day, but when you see the result of everything you applied and studied in development in our clients' animals and their satisfaction, that is the most important thing for me.

How do you hope your work will influence the scientific community and the animal protein production in the future?
My work is directly linked to these areas. In our products, we are developing innovative ingredients that are increasingly focused on the productivity and sustainability of our planet. This will help our industry produce more and more quality protein with a minimum of harm to the environment.

Can you share a fun or surprising fact about your research or field of expertise?
In one of the scientific works I carried out at a university in Brazil, I spent one of the most fun and anticipated holidays at Carnival, feeding the animals. Since there were no volunteers for that period, I called some close friends and we managed to finish the work successfully, but after that, some friends didn't answer my calls for a long time.