Expanding onion production in Brazil highlights the importance of adapted hybrid cultivars

The onion market in Brazil has experienced remarkable growth in recent years, consolidating the country as one of the largest onion producers in Latin America. According to data from IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics), national production surpassed the 1.6 million ton mark in 2023, placing Brazil as a significant supplier in the region. Onion cultivation is concentrated mainly in the South, Northeast and Central-West regions, with Santa Catarina standing out as the largest producer, followed by Bahia and Minas Gerais, which also account for a considerable part of national production. To meet the growing demand for quality and the diversity of climate conditions in the country, the adoption of hybrid cultivars has proven to be essential. Hybrid onions offer significant advantages over traditional varieties, such as greater resistance to pests, diseases and climate variations. In addition, they allow for a higher planting density per hectare, which results in ...