Agriculture in Brazil

Agriculture in Brazil
Agricultural fields near Perdizes, Minas Gerais
Brazil
Cultivated land91.9 million ha (2022)[1]
Agricultural land
(% of land area)		28.6% (2021)[2]
Rural population
(% of total population)		12% (2022)[2]
Main productsSoybeans, maize, cane sugar, coffee, cotton, beef, poultry, pork, cocoa, fruits, orange juice, açaí, brazil nuts, tobacco, sugar, organic honey, guaraná, cellulose, sisal fiber, ethanol
Production
Grains322.8 million tons (2022)[3]
Major products
Cane and derivatives630.7 million tons (2020)[4]
Soy154.6 million tons (2022)[3]
Corn131.9 million tons (2022)[3]
Participation in the economy
Crop valueR$830.1 billion (US$154.01 billion) (2022)[5]
Contribution to GDP4.53% (2008)[6]
Agribusiness GDP (Rural industry and trade, livestock and agriculture)26.46% (2008)[6]
Development of agricultural output of Brazil in 2015 US$ since 1961

The agriculture of Brazil is historically one of the principal bases of Brazil's economy. As of 2024 the country is the second biggest grain exporter in the world, with 19% of the international market share, and the fourth overall grain producer.[7] Brazil is also the world's largest exporter of many popular agriculture commodities like coffee, soybeans, organic honey, beef, poultry, cane sugar, açai berry, orange juice, yerba mate, cellulose, tobacco, and the second biggest exporter of maize, pork, cotton, and ethanol.[8] The country also has a significant presence as producer and exporter of rice, wheat, eggs, refined sugar, cocoa, beans, nuts, cassava, sisal fiber, and diverse fruits and vegetables.[9]

The success of agriculture during the Estado Novo (New State), with Getúlio Vargas, led to the expression, "Brazil, breadbasket of the world".[10]

The southern one-half to two-thirds of Brazil has a semi-temperate climate, higher rainfall, more fertile soil, more advanced technology and input use, adequate infrastructure and more experienced farmers. This region produces most of Brazil's grains, oilseeds, and agriculture exports.

The drought-ridden northeast region and Amazon basin lack well-distributed rainfall, good soil, adequate infrastructure and development capital. Although mostly occupied by subsistence farmers, both regions are increasingly important as exporters of forest products, cocoa and tropical fruits. Central Brazil contains substantial areas of grassland. Brazilian grasslands are far less fertile than those of North America, and are generally suited only for grazing.

Extreme weather events like drought, linked with deforestation and climate change, increasingly impact Brazilian agriculture.[11]

  1. ^ "Planted agricultural area in Brazil 2022". Statista. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  2. ^ a b "World Bank Open Data". World Bank Open Data. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "Conab - Com novo recorde, produção de grãos na safra 2022/23 chega a 322,8 milhões de toneladas". www.conab.gov.br. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  4. ^ "Produção de cana deve ser 1,9% menor na safra 2020/2021, aponta Conab". Revista Globo Rural. 24 August 2022. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  5. ^ "Valor de produção e safra de grãos batem recorde em 2022, aponta IBGE". Agência Gov (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  6. ^ a b CEPEA/USP/CNA Data download Archived 1 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine, – in Portuguese. Searched 18 October 2009.
  7. ^ "Brazil is the world's fourth largest grain producer and top beef exporter, study shows". Embrapa. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  8. ^ "FAOSTAT". www.fao.org.
  9. ^ "Brazil Surges Ahead with Commodities Wealth - Newsweek International Edition - Newsweek.com". newsweek.com. Archived from the original on 7 August 2008.
  10. ^ "O novo salto do agronegócio". Exame (in Portuguese). 14 June 2007. Archived from the original on 26 May 2008. Retrieved 5 March 2009.
  11. ^ "Climate change already affects agriculture in 28% of the Brazilian midwest". IPAM – Instituto de Pesquisa Ambiental da Amazônia. Nature Climate Change.