Food security is not an ideological abstraction. It is a foundation of international stability.

In democratic societies, cultural expression is a pillar of freedom. Artistic critique is legitimate. Debate is healthy.

However, when publicly funded cultural narratives portray a nation’s most strategic productive sector through oversimplified or ideological lenses, a deeper institutional question emerges:

What is the strategic alignment between national economic policy and public discourse?

In the case of Brazil, this question is not rhetorical. It is structural.

The Economic Weight of Brazilian Agribusiness (2023–2025 Data)

According to CEPEA/ESALQ-USP, agribusiness represented approximately 24–25% of Brazil’s GDP in 2024, remaining the largest single contributor to national economic activity.

Data from Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture and the Secretariat of Foreign Trade indicate:

• Agribusiness accounted for around 40% of total Brazilian exports in 2024
• The sector generated approximately USD 165–170 billion in export revenues
• Brazil’s trade surplus was largely sustained by agricultural exports

The Brazilian Confederation of Agriculture and Livestock (CNA) estimates that the sector supports over 28 million jobs, directly and indirectly.

These figures are not political claims. They are official economic data.

Brazil’s Strategic Position in Global Food Systems

According to FAO and USDA statistics, Brazil currently ranks as:

• The world’s largest exporter of soybeans
• The largest exporter of beef
• The largest exporter of poultry
• The second largest exporter of corn
• A global leader in sugar and coffee exports

Additionally, Brazil holds approximately 12% of the planet’s surface freshwater reserves (Brazilian National Water Agency – ANA).

These are not merely trade statistics. They are geopolitical variables.

Food Security in a Volatile Global Order

The joint FAO/IFAD/WFP/WHO report “The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2023” estimates that over 735 million people worldwide face severe food insecurity.

In a global context shaped by:

• The Russia–Ukraine conflict (affecting fertilizers and grain flows)
• Middle East instability
• Climate volatility
• Trade fragmentation and strategic decoupling

Major agricultural exporters play a stabilizing role in the international system.

The European Union heavily subsidizes agriculture through the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

The United States maintains large-scale support via the Farm Bill. China holds substantial strategic grain reserves.

No major power treats food production as secondary.

Sustainability: Often Simplified, Rarely Examined in Depth

Brazil’s environmental framework is frequently debated, yet key data points deserve attention:

• Approximately 66% of Brazil’s territory remains covered by native vegetation
• Landowners in the Amazon biome are legally required to preserve up to 80% of their property as Legal Reserve under the Forest Code

While environmental challenges remain real and complex, the regulatory structure is among the most demanding globally.

Serious policy discussion requires nuance.

Strategic Paradox

Brazil feeds the world but depends heavily on imported fertilizers — approximately 85% of domestic fertilizer demand is supplied by imports, according to the National Fertilizer Association (ANDA).

The Russia–Ukraine war exposed this vulnerability. This is the level of strategic debate that matters:

• How can Brazil reduce dependency on critical inputs?
• How can it expand agro-industrial value addition?
• How should it structure long-term agricultural diplomacy?
• How can sustainability metrics strengthen competitiveness rather than weaken it?

This is not ideological terrain. It is strategic planning.

Cultural Narratives and Institutional Coherence

In any mature democracy, freedom of expression must be preserved. Yet institutional coherence also matters.

When cultural narratives symbolically weaken the perception of a nation’s primary export sector, it raises a legitimate strategic concern:

Is the country aligning its cultural messaging with its economic reality?

The United States promotes its farmers as national assets. The European Union defends its producers strategically.

China integrates food production into long-term state planning. Brazil’s agribusiness is not simply an industry.

It is infrastructure of national power.

Food as a Geopolitical Stabilizer

The World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2024 identifies food insecurity among the top systemic global risks.

In this context, Brazil functions not only as a supplier but as a stabilizing actor in global food markets.

Food security is not an ideological abstraction. It is a foundation of international stability.

Undermining strategic sectors through shallow narratives may generate short-term applause, but it does not strengthen institutional maturity.

Elevating the Debate

Brazilian agribusiness:

• Sustains the national trade surplus
• Anchors foreign currency inflows
• Supports macroeconomic stability
• It Feeds hundreds of millions globally
• Operates under extensive environmental regulation
• Represents nearly a quarter of the national economy Criticism is legitimate.

Oversimplification is counterproductive.

In the 21st century, food is strategic leverage.

The question is not whether Brazil is already a food power.

It is whether it fully understands — and acts upon — that reality.

See also that AI in agriculture is no longer a futuristic concept — it’s already reshaping agriculture worldwide. AI is helping farmers grow more food with fewer resources, paving the way for a smarter, greener, and more sustainable future. Click here to know more about it!

Click here to receive Farmnews studies via WhatsApp!