Embrapa Develops Transgenic Wheat to Boost Production in Brazil's Cerrado

Embrapa researchers are developing a transgenic wheat variety designed to increase production volume and expand the cultivation area in the Cerrado region. Julio Cesar Albrecht, a researcher with the Embrapa Cerrados wheat improvement program, stated that this new variety, created through a partnership with an Argentine company, crosses transgenic materials with those tolerant to heat and drought. The variety is expected to reach the market in three years and aims to maintain a productivity of at least two tons per hectare while reducing risks for producers.

In 2022, the Cerrado achieved a world production record of 9 tons per hectare over a 119 day cycle, which outperformed New Zealand's production in terms of time efficiency despite New Zealand's higher total of 14 tons over 300 days. Currently, production covers nearly 400,000 hectares, though researchers believe the region has the potential to reach between 1 million and 2 million hectares.

Several obstacles currently hinder growth. These include competition from Argentine wheat, a lack of local mills near Brasília, and insufficient storage capacity in the region. High logistics costs to transport wheat to coastal mills often make importing from Argentina more viable. Additionally, irrigated wheat competes with more profitable crops such as corn, beans, potatoes, and vegetables.

Beyond economic returns, wheat is vital for crop rotation in the Cerrado. It acts as a suppressor of soil diseases, pests, and weeds, which reduces the need for herbicides and protects the soil structure. While sequeiro wheat depends heavily on rainfall and carries higher risks, the new transgenic variety seeks to mitigate these vulnerabilities.