University Summit in Kyushu 2007
Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan, 27-28 October
Session 2 : The University as a Resource for Prosperous Local Communities

Prof. Dr. Sedi HIRANO
Pro Rector,

 

BUILDING A FUTURE AS THE LEADING NATION IN FOOD PRODUCTION
IN THE AGRIBUSINESS SECTOR

 
   

Brazilian agribusiness in the food production and export sector will take on a fundamental role in the coming decades as a global player on the global economic stage.

Brazil is currently the world’s top producer of coffee, oranges, concentrated juices, and sugar cane. Today Brazil is the world’s second-largest soy producer, responsible for 27% of global production, behind the top producer, the United States (36%) and ahead of Argentina, the third-largest producer (19%). It is estimated that in 2015/2016, Brazil will be the world’s leading exporter of soybeans.?The tendency of becoming the top soy exporter, overtaking the United States, is expected to begin as soon as 2007/2008. With regard to the production and exportation of beef, chicken, and pork, Brazil will likely go from second-largest producer to top producer and exporter in 2015, with 4.38 million tons, followed by the United States in second with 3.22 tons and the European Union with 1.0 million tons. Brazil is also the world’s third-largest corn producer and the world’s third-largest center of fruitculture.

Compared with the top producers and exporters of agricultural products, Brazil is fifth, with 4.5%, while the United States is in first place, with 10.6%; the Netherlands are second, with 7.9%; France is third, with 7.7%, and Germany is in fourth place, with 6.5%. These five countries represent 37% of the world’s agricultural production.

Among the top importers of agricultural products are the United States, with 9.4%, Germany, with 8.0%, and Japan, with 6.5%

The reason for optimism with regard to the bright future of Brazilian agribusiness is that only 5% of the country’s total available land is in use. In the United States, meanwhile, the use of the land has changed little over the past 40 years.

What prevents Brazil from conquering the most dynamic and demanding markets of highly-developed countries (such as the European Union countries, Japan, some other Asian countries, the United States, and other North American countries) are sanitation barriers. The markets of the USA, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Canada, and Taiwan are considered closed to Brazilian raw beef.

Therefore, the great obstacle to the entry of beef and pork from Brazil comes from sanitary restrictions, particularly those related to foot-and-mouth disease. These restrictions cause Brazilian beef exports to be directed to developing countries that have fewer requirements. The large markets of developed countries prefer to import meat from countries that are free of foot-and-mouth disease, such as Australia and New Zealand.

In view of the aforementioned conditions, it is fundamental to follow the international standard of regulations in agribusiness.

The sanitary and phytosanitary measures aim, firstly, to protect human and animal health from the risks associated with foods contaminated by microorganisms; secondly, to defend human health from diseases transmitted by plants and animals; and thirdly, to preserve animals and plants from plagues and diseases.

In order to transform Brazil into the “global cellar” it is of fundamental importance to construct a system of quality controls in the chains of production, distribution and consumption of agro-industrial products, with the active participation of universities, research institutes, and public organizations, and with the collaboration of private initiatives.