How Brazil is Saving the World from Food Shortage Crisis

It is reported on June 7, that Brazil is the fourth-largest countries for food production and is entirely self-sufficient in basic foodstuffs, with the production ranks world’s highest, of banana, cacao, cassava, coffee, corn, maize, rice, soybean, and sugar. Although the majority of these good is consumed in domestic market ,there is a significant portion for exporting, including oranges, palm oils, garlic, peanuts, tea, etc.

A steady supply of fertilizer is a key factor to power such a mighty agriculture in Brazil. Unfortunately, Russia is the largest supplier of fertilizer for Brazil, supplying 44 percent of total fertilizers consumption in Brazil every year.

Since the invasion into Ukraine began, Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro has said that Brazil would remain neutral. President Bolsonaro met with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on February 16, stating that they are looking forwards to cooperate with Russia in various fields, including defense, oil and gas, agriculture and that Brazil will stand in solidarity with Russia.

As expected, U.S Government exerted pressure to hold the meeting back due to the tensions between western countries and Russia over war in Ukraine. President Jair Bolsonaro did what he planned to do despite spite of US’s blame.

The Amazon is a treasure land for Brazilian, with tremendous natural resources, such as sugar, valuable minerals, and crude oil. It is also true that Brazil still needs to import roughly 10 million tons potassium fertilizer for corn production each year. And the number accounts for 97% of its total potassium consumption.