b'The Soybean PowerhouseBrazilBrazilian soybean demand and production has risen dramatically over the past decade supported by new seed technologies.Ashley RobinsonOVER THE PASTfew decades,the past decade with production and areaincrease as much as expected due to La soybean production in Brazil has risen.increasing annually. For the 2022/2023Nias rolling through the growing regions. The South American nation has contin- crop year, Brazilian farmers planted 43.4Marini notes this reduced the amount of ued to add farmland, increasing its soy- million hectares producing 153 millionsoybean exports from the nation, how-bean area as demand has grown for thetons of soybeans, higher than the five- ever, that was also tied to an increase in oilseed. With improving seed technology,year averages which are 37.79 millionBrazils crush capacity which lowered demand is expected to continue to swell. hectares and 128.28 million tons. Over thetheir reliance on exports for processing. Brazil is one of the most importantpast five years, the area has increased byBrazilian soybean export demand soybean producers in the world, Andre15% and production by 19%. has been tied to high futures contracts Buran, Bayer Crop Sciences seeds andChina is the main buyer of Brazilianon the Chicago Board of Trade and a traits marketing head for LATAM. As asoybeans, taking 75-80% of exportsweak Brazilian currency. Brazils currency, technology company, we are positionedexplains Marcela Marini, a senior analystthe real, as of March 13, 2023, is worth in this chain in different ways. One of thefor grains and oilseeds with Rabobank inUSD$0.19. The southern hemisphere most important is related to both seedsSao Paulo, Brazil. After China, Europeannation also has a boost due to its growing and biotechnology to try to help growersand other southeast Asian nations are theseasonthe soybean harvest starts in produce more and be more sustainable. top purchasers of the countrys soybeans.January with Argentinas not starting until According to the United StatesHowever, it hasnt been all good newsa few months later and American crops Department of Agriculture, soybean pro- regarding production. The past twonot being taken off until duction in Brazil has grown steadily overgrowing seasons, production did notlate September.A Brazilian soybean field almost ready for harvest at sunset. PHOTO: GDM6/ SEEDWORLD.COMLATAM'