Wheat advances in Central Brazil and shows potential to reduce imports

Expansion to new regions Traditionally concentrated in Paraná, Rio Grande do Sul, and Santa Catarina, wheat is now gaining ground in the Cerrado and even in the North. In Cristalina (GO), a farmer achieved a record productivity of 9,630 kg/ha in 2021 in an irrigated area of 101 hectares with the BRS 364 variety, a result far above the national average. According to researchers from Embrapa Wheat, experiences like this confirm the crop's potential in the Midwest. Currently, the BRS 264 variety is in the evaluation phase in large-scale irrigated farms, with harvest expected in September. The goal is to multiply seeds adapted to the Cerrado conditions. "We are facing a new agricultural frontier for the cereal. The adaptation to the climate of Central Brazil can turn wheat into a strategic crop in these regions as well," said researcher Gilberto Cunga, who coordinates part of the work. Technical challenges and new applications Despite the advances, cultivation faces challenges, such ...