In the 2021/2022 harvest, it is estimated that 95% of soybeans produced in Brazil are derived from genetically modified varieties developed in laboratories. This figure is vastly different from the early 2000s when only 2% of the sown grain in the 2000/2001 season was transgenic, according to a study by Céleres, an agribusiness analysis company.
Among the benefits of this variety are the reduction in pesticide use, fuel savings, decreased labor, increased productivity, and enhanced profitability for the producer. In conventional soybeans, the grain undergoes no laboratory alteration and only improves through the crossing of cultivars combining productivity and resistance.
According to Anderson Galvão, director of Céleres, regardless of the variety, China remains an absolutely consolidated market for Brazilian soybeans, with almost 80% of the country's exports going there. "Other markets that Brazil has the opportunity to explore are undoubtedly African countries, which, despite being the poorest continent on average, have experienced significant economic growth," he considers. However, he warns that Brazil needs to remain vigilant about the emergence of new competitors. "Climate change has allowed southern Russia, which previously did not produce soybeans, to start production. The same goes for Canada, where it was very cold, and now the climate is becoming favorable for the oilseed crop," he says.
Organic Soybeans
The management of organic soybeans is differentiated and requires specific care. Cultivation is done without the use of agricultural pesticides, relying solely on biological control. Thus, production costs may be lower, adding value to the product intended for human consumption. It is estimated that the quantity of organic soybeans produced in Brazil is 30,000 tons.
Compared to the transgenic soybean system, depending on the cultivar and region, the price paid for organic beans can be 30% to 50% higher per sack. According to Fábio Meirelles Filho, president of Aprosoja-MG, regardless of the oilseed, all three varieties allow Brazil to offer differentiated products to the international market, with high added value.
He explains that non-GMO soybeans have a specific market. "Their values are higher, and their negotiations are sometimes easier, but the producer needs to be very attentive to the production cost because non-GMO soybeans require a series of care, a highly developed technical part to have a quality product that meets this market," he clarifies. "The world has a strong need for the supply of quality protein, and Brazil can be the only country in the world to offer these varieties on a large scale due to its tropical climate," he emphasizes.
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