Abstract (Translated):
The aim is to verify whether wheat production has expanded to other regions, in addition to the South, in order to make the country self-sufficient in the supply of the product. Although wheat is the second most produced cereal in the world, its production is unevenly distributed regionally. In the case of Brazil, the country has historically resorted to imports to meet the domestic demand. With production concentrated in the South, the nationally produced supply meets half of domestic consumption and, for this reason, the national supply of derivative products is subject to fluctuations in international prices and exchange rates, as well as the availability of raw materials in other markets. This article describes the evolution and the potential of wheat production in Brazil, identifying the policies that fostered cultivation and the actions that dynamized the production chain. Furthermore, the influence of research and development in increasing productivity and, especially, the quality of national wheat is shown. Through the use of location and specialization measures, it was identified that, as of 2010, the states of Sao Paulo and Minas Gerais increased the production of wheat in the Southeast region, in a movement of restructuring and productive regional reorganization. This restructuring is based on science and technology, combined with pressure from domestic demand for the product.
