Conventional Soybeans (non-GMO) are 2.4% of Brazil’s Soy Acres

Conventional soybean production (non-GMO) continues to expand in Brazil. The Brazilian agricultural research service, Embrapa, has developed conventional soybean varieties that outperform GMO varieties and some of the newer varieties are resistant to nematodes and soybean rust and they are adapted to different soils and climates of Brazil. The premiums offered for conventional soybeans are very attractive especially since higher input costs have squeezed profit margins.

Brazilian farmers are expected to increase their conventional soybean acreage for the 2022/23 growing season to 986,200 hectares (2.43 million acres), which would equate to 2.4% of Brazil’s soybean acreage.

Farmers in Mato Grosso are expected to increase their conventional soybean acreage by 34.6% in 2022/23 from 365,200 hectares last year to 491,600 hectares this year, which would represent 49% of the conventional soybean acreage in Brazil. Parana is expected to increase conventional soybean acreage by 24.9% from 211,500 hectares to 264,300 hectares. Goias is the third leading producer and the acreage in the state will increase from 64,600 hectares last year to 85,300 hectares this year.

Research conducted by Embrapa has greatly improved the genetics of conventional soybean varieties. The Mato Grosso Institute of Agricultural Economics (Imea) reported that the average yield of conventional soybeans in the state in 2021/22 was 65.5 sacks per hectare (58.5 bu/ac) compared to the average statewide yield of 59.3 sacks per hectare (53.0 bu/ac), or 6.2 sacks per hectare better than the average (5.5 bu/ac).

With the spread of conventional soybeans to different areas of Brazil, farmers are being advised to pay close attention to assuring that their conventional soybeans are segregated form GMO soybeans during all phases of production, harvesting, and transporting the soybeans.

The primary destination for Brazil’s conventional soybeans is Europe where there is a steady demand for this type of product.

Tags: Brazil, Production, ГМО, yield, acreage, conventional soybeans, varieties