Food Security: The Brazilian case

The report examines Brazil's transition from a net food importer to a net exporter over nearly three decades. It finds that national food availability is more than sufficient, with per capita availability exceeding nutritional requirements by about one third. The document concludes that food insecurity in Brazil is driven by the inability of the poor to afford food rather than a lack of supply, and that international trade has not negatively impacted food security at the national level.

• Brazil transitioned from a net food importer to a net exporter in less than 30 years through increased productivity and the incorporation of new land areas, which lowered production costs and improved access to global commodity trade without harming the internal market.
• National food availability in Brazil is sufficient for the entire population, with per capita availability in grain equivalent exceeding 340 kg per year, which is approximately one third more than nutritional requirements. Consequently, food insecurity is caused by the inability of poor citizens to afford food rather than a lack of availability.
• Between the late 1990s and late 2000s, Brazil significantly increased its export volumes and global market share for several commodities. By 2007, Brazil held a 31.90 per cent market share in soybeans (23,733.78 kilotons), 29.95 per cent in refined sugar (6,915.80 kilotons), and 9.97 per cent in maize (10,933.46 kilotons).
• The price of fertilizers, particularly in Brazil, was a primary factor contributing to the rise of food prices between 2006 and 2008, alongside population growth and higher incomes.

APA

Peduto,, W. A. N. D. A. (2010). Food Security: The Brazilian case. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/food-security-brazilian-case

Chicago

Peduto,, Weber Antonio Neves do Amaral,Alessandro. Food Security: The Brazilian case. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2010. https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/food-security-brazilian-case.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Peduto, |first1=Weber Antonio Neves do Amaral,Alessandro |title=Food Security: The Brazilian case |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=27 September 2010 |url=https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/food-security-brazilian-case |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{peduto2010food, author = {Peduto,, Weber Antonio Neves do Amaral,Alessandro}, title = {{Food Security: The Brazilian case}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2010}, month = sep, url = {https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/food-security-brazilian-case}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }