Achieving wheat self-sufficiency in Brazil

Abstract

Abstract Brazil is a major global grain exporter yet imports about 40% of the wheat it consumes every year. To meet domestic demand, Brazilian wheat production could be expanded into the vast areas of the Cerrado. Self-sufficiency would require transforming at least 0.5 million hectares of pasture into irrigated crop land or 2 million hectares if rainfed. Larger areas would need to be cultivated to cope with population growth, commodity price variation and climate change impacts.