Why S America’s breadbasket isn’t the answer to global wheat crisis

Why S America’s breadbasket isn’t the answer to global wheat crisis

DOCTOR JUAN EULOGIO ESTIGARRIBIA, Paraguay: As the world faces a growing food crisis provoked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, many have looked to South America’s “breadbasket”-major wheat producers Brazil and Argentina, along with Uruguay and Paraguay-as a possible solution. But experts and analysts say a variety of factors-climate, cost, domestic needs-make such a solution highly unlikely. Russia and Ukraine alone produce 30 percent of the world’s wheat supply. Moscow’s military offensive in Ukraine and subsequent sanctions on Russia have disrupted supplies of fertilizer, wheat and other commodities from both countries, pushing up prices for food and fuel, especially in developing nations.

A suspension of India’s exports has further exacerbated the problem. Here’s a look at the major wheat producing countries in South America, and how they might, or might not, be able to help alleviate the crisis: Brazil: higher yield, but big needs at home. Agricultural giant Brazil is due to increase its wheat crop coverage by between three and 11 percent this year, according to Embrapa Wheat, a state-run research unit affiliated with the Brazilian agriculture ministry. Record prices, surging demand and the “expectation of favorable weather, strengthen the projection of an increase in the planted area” from 2.7 million