Soybean is one of the most important crops in the world, originating in Asia — specifically in China — more than 3,000 years ago. Initially grown as a legume for human and animal consumption, soybean was considered one of the "five sacred grains" by the Chinese, alongside rice, wheat, barley and millet. Its spread around the world began in the 19th century, driven by demand for vegetable oil and animal feed.
Soybean arrived in Brazil in the early 20th century, brought by Japanese immigrants. The first plantings were recorded in the 1920s in the state of São Paulo, but the crop only gained economic importance starting in the 1970s, with agricultural expansion into the Cerrado.
Brazil established itself as one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of soybean due to several factors, including its adaptation to the Cerrado, technological advances and favorable agricultural policies. Expansion began in the south of the country, especially in Rio Grande do Sul and Paraná, and quickly advanced into the Center-West, with states such as Mato Grosso, Goiás and Mato Grosso do Sul standing out.
The introduction of more resistant cultivars, the use of modern technologies and the correction of acidic Cerrado soils were key factors in turning Brazil into a soybean production giant.
Soybean Production, Region: Brasil
Source: IBGE
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