Wheat is one of the most cultivated cereals in the world, being the second main crop with 773.4 million tons, around 23% of global grain production. It is only behind corn (36%) and ahead of other important products such as soybeans (11%) and rice (15%).
In Brazil, the largest producers are Rio Grande do Sul and Paraná, but there is also a presence of the cereal in the Southeast, Center-West and even the Northeast. National consumption exceeds production, which is why the country imports wheat, much of it from Argentina. Brazil also exports but a very low volume. In 2019 it was 0.4 million tons. In this harvest, which has barely started, 880 thousand tons have already been contracted – the estimate is 1 million tons for export, with a heated market price.
In recent years, technology in wheat farming has evolved through management and high potential seeds. This segment undergoes genetic improvement work and testing that can take 8 to 10 years to become a commercial variety.
According to Conab, changes to the technological package increased productivity. In 2012 it was 2.4 kg/ha and in 2015 it increased to 2.9 kg/ha. Last harvest the average productivity was 5.7 kg/ha. There are already cultivars on the market with the potential to produce even more than that. Another factor is that wheat can indirectly increase productivity in the crop to be subsequently planted, such as soybeans.
At Biotrigo Genética, in Passo Fundo (RS), breeding is careful. New cultivars are developed in a short time, an average of 6 years until reaching the seed multiplier and validated in more than 54 points in the country in order to adapt to different regions. The varieties seek crop health, productivity, resistance to climate and water stress. “We have to think about varieties focused on the needs of the mill and the consumer, who are increasingly demanding. We work so that the producer is motivated to plant wheat and have quality, focusing on the producer’s needs. It is also important for the farmer to buy certified seed, because a few years ago wheat was a marginalized crop and, with a lot of investment, today it has the attention it deserves”, highlights the commercial manager for Latin America, Fernando Wagner.
Source: agrolink
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