São Paulo leads Brazilian seed exports.

Amid the challenges posed by climate change and the growing global demand for food, São Paulo consolidated its position as Brazil's leading seed exporter by 2025. Data from the Institute of Agricultural Economics (IEA-Apta) indicates that the state accounted for 36,2% of national exports in the sector, with approximately 14 million tons shipped and revenue of US$ 94,6 million.

IEA-Apta researcher José Alberto Ângelo indicates that the main highlights were corn seeds for sowing and forage seeds, segments in which Brazil holds a prominent position in research, production, and technological development.

According to experts, São Paulo's performance is directly linked to investments in agricultural research. Institutions connected to the São Paulo Agribusiness Technology Agency (Apta) operate in different areas of the production chain. The Institute of Animal Science (IZ-Apta), for example, maintains the largest germplasm bank of forage plants in Latin America. The Biological Institute (IB-Apta) works in the area of ​​plant health, while the Agronomic Institute (IAC-Apta) is recognized for developing cultivars adapted to tropical conditions.

The topic gained international relevance during the World Seed Congress 2026, held in Lisbon at the end of May. Promoted by the International Seed Federation (ISF), the event brought together more than 1,8 participants from 78 countries to discuss genetic innovation, sustainability, food security, and adapting agriculture to climate change.

According to data presented by ISF, the global seed market generates approximately US$90 billion annually, with companies investing up to 30% of their revenue in research and development. In the European Union, seed innovations account for 74% of agricultural productivity gains.

The need for more resistant cultivars is likely to increase given projections of a new, intense El Niño cycle. In this scenario, Brazil emerges as one of the strategic countries for the development of varieties adapted to tropical conditions.

Piracy is a concern for the sector.

Among the central themes of the congress was the rise in seed piracy, a practice that causes estimated losses of R$ 2,44 billion annually in Brazil, according to the Brazilian Association of Seeds and Seedlings (Abrasem).

In addition to economic losses, experts warn of agronomic and sanitary risks. According to Brazilian law, pirated seeds are materials sold without certified origin and without registration of production fields with the Ministry of Agriculture (MAPA). These products offer no guarantees of germination, varietal purity, or phytosanitary health.

The crops most affected by this practice in the country are beans, rice, cotton, soybeans, and wheat.

"Piracy is very unfavorable to agricultural supply chains because farmers can sow material without quality assurance, subject to disease problems and low germination rates," says Alisson Fernando Chiorato, a researcher and plant breeder at the Agronomic Institute (IAC-Apta).

According to him, the use of certified seeds also contributes to funding new research and genetic improvement programs.

In São Paulo, the Cati Seed and Seedling Analysis Laboratory is responsible for quality control and regulatory validation of imported seeds. Accredited by MAPA (Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply) and a member of the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA), the laboratory issues certifications according to international standards required by the global market.

Cati also maintains structures focused on the production and genetic, physiological, and sanitary certification of seeds, in addition to developing research in partnership with institutions such as Embrapa Florestas.