Brazil seeks to increase domestic wheat production

Brazil is committed to achieving wheat self-sufficiency within the next decade by expanding its domestic production, despite being one of the world's top wheat importers. The country's wheat planting area has grown by 80% over the past 40 years, and there is interest in cultivating wheat in the Cerrado biome, a region known for its dry weather and soil conditions. However, challenges such as wheat blast, logistical issues, and high production costs persist. In addition to wheat, Brazil is a global leader in the production and export of various commodities like corn, soybeans, ethanol, and biodiesel, but its extensive farming practices have been criticized for their impact on biomes and biodiversity. The World Bank has urged Brazil to shift towards a more sustainable, low-carbon productivity model.

Brazil, already a dominant force in global agriculture as a leading producer and exporter of multiple commodities, is steadfastly working to grow its domestic wheat production and become self-sufficient within the next decade. The nation consumes more than 12 million tonnes of wheat and wheat-based products per year, more than its national production of roughly 9.5 million tonnes, according to the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) of the US Department of Agriculture. As a result, Brazil is among the top 10 largest wheat importers in the world, reaching an estimated 5.6 million tonnes in 2024-25. The wheat planted area has grown by nearly 80% in the last 40 years, improving domestic self-sufficiency from 30% to 80% with the 2022-23 harvest. The volume of wheat milled also is increasing per year, with a 2% increase in 2023 to a total of 12.81 million tonnes processed, according to Abitrigo, the Brazilian wheat industry association. Farmers and researchers have made strides in ...