Wheat Forum highlights new markets for the cereal.

New market opportunities for wheat were the focus of the 11th State Wheat Forum, held in the Central Auditorium of Expodireto Cotrijal. The debate brought together representatives from the sector to discuss animal feed, biofuels, the foreign market, and production management. The forum was promoted by Cotrijal, Seapi/RS, and the Wheat Sector Chamber of Rio Grande do Sul.

At the opening, the State Undersecretary for Irrigation, Márcio Amaral, participated on behalf of Secretary Edivilson Meurer Brum, from Seapi/RS.

In the panel on biofuels, Leandro Luiz Zat, Vice President of Operations at Be8, pointed to ethanol, gluten, DDGS, and carbon dioxide as future alternatives to wheat. According to him, the current demand for these products still depends on imports. Zat also cited new biodiesel industries as a factor in expanding demand. This movement could open markets beyond mills and exports. Companies are already investing in genetics to increase the protein content of the grain. For Zat, this process should expand marketing options in the long term.

The market analysis was conducted by Elcio Bento, economist and wheat specialist at Safras & Mercado. He presented the outlook for the 2026/2027 cycle. Bento highlighted the direct link between the Brazilian market and the international scenario. Production, exports, imports, climate, and geopolitics influence supply, demand, and prices. For the next harvest, the projection indicates a reduction in production, with a possible price increase and an increase in imports by Brazil.

In the section on off-seasons, Giovani Stefani Faé, from Embrapa Trigo, and Tiago de Andrade Neves Horbe, from CCGL and RTC, defended an integrated vision of the production system. The researchers highlighted the annual planning of crops and the strategic use of winter and summer windows. Management can increase efficiency and sustainability. According to the panelists, benefits to the soil, adoption of technologies, adapted cultivars, management, and a focus on grain quality support the advancement of wheat cultivation.