Evolution of world food trade and Brazil's repositioning, 2001-2021

The aim of this research was to assess the evolution of world food trade between 2001 and 2021 by considering the main players at the global market and several products. Moreover, in that period, the Brazilian case was considered due to its repositioning as a relevant global producer and exporter of food. From several data sources, this exploratory and quantitative study showed that, regarding food exports, roles have changed and that they had geoeconomic impacts given the international repositioning of the main exporting countries, especially in the case of emerging economies. It is shown that this group of countries plays a relevant role in the agricultural geoeconomics, not only as producers, but also as consumers. Although South-South trade continues to be relevant, the proliferation of trade agreements has favoured trade between countries in different regions of the world and it is expected that this process will deepen, generating opportunities to expand exports. Given this scenario, it was shown that from technological and institutional innovations and regulatory changes, among other factors, Brazil had achieved increases in productivity that allowed it to emerge as one of the main world producers and exporters of food. Given a process that began several decades ago, this country has been able to position itself as a relevant actor as a producer and as an exporter of food. Even when the pandemic generated by the COVID -19 revealed the relevance of food production and commercialization and of each stage of the supply chain, Brazil's world leadership in food provision did not reverse. In addition, the war between Ukraine and Russia displaced the former as a global supplier of various food products and boosted the growth of other countries that took its place.