RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) said April 14 that Brazil should expect a war over food security because of a shortage of wheat on the market. The remarks were made alongside Celso Moretti, president of the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa).
“In Brazil, there is a possibility that a war over food security is imminent. He (Moretti) will talk about wheat and fertilizers, but in a simple, objective language, so you will understand this language,” the president said.
Questioned by the president, Moretti explained that each Brazilian consumes 55 kg of wheat per year with bread, pasta, and cookies.
“Brazil is still an importer of wheat. Brazil producers around 7 million tons and has a demand of 12 million. So, we need to import 5 million tons every year, which poses a supply risk in a situation like the one we are living in, with this war in Ukraine,” explained Celso Moretti.
The president of Embrapa explained that the country that exports most wheat to Brazil is Argentina. Bolsonaro then stated that problems with diesel supply in the neighboring country could complicate the situation.
“Argentina has a problem. For example: until a few weeks ago, diesel was very cheap; people were going to fill up in Argentina, and there was a price interference by the federal government. Because it was cheap, and now diesel is in short supply in Argentina. So, this may affect wheat production in that country,” explained Bolsonaro.
The Brazilian president had already addressed the issue this week at an event at the Planalto Palace, saying that he was committed to Brazil’s self-sufficiency, which he repeated on Thursday’s show.
Wheat production in Brazil is based in the south of the country, but thanks to technologies developed by Embrapa, it is expanding to other regions such as the Midwest and the north of the country.