SAO PAULO – Brazil’s premier agricultural research agency, Embrapa, is gearing up for a groundbreaking 12-year research initiative that could position the country as a global leader in cannabis cultivation, much like its success in grain exports.
Renowned for developing climate-adapted crop varieties, Embrapa is awaiting approval from Brazil’s health regulator, Anvisa, to launch an extensive cannabis research program this year. The initiative aims to optimize cannabis genetics for Brazil’s diverse climates, mirroring the agency’s transformative work with crops like cotton and soybeans.
“Imagine if we had spent decades improving cannabis genetics the way we did with cotton,” said Daniela Bittencourt, a researcher with Embrapa’s cannabis task force.
The program includes establishing a cannabis seed bank, adapting strains for local conditions, and identifying ideal production zones across the country. According to Bittencourt, at least ten domestic and international companies have already expressed interest in collaborating, exploring applications in medicine, food, crop rotation, and carbon sequestration.
Embrapa’s agricultural advancements since the 1970s unlocked Brazil’s potential as a farming powerhouse, dramatically increasing soybean yields and turning the nation into the world’s top producer. A similar breakthrough in cannabis could open new economic frontiers.
A recent Brazilian Supreme Court ruling in November legalized hemp cultivation for medicinal use, giving Anvisa a deadline until May to finalize regulations—a deadline the agency may seek to extend by six months in an upcoming hearing. Unlike Uruguay and Canada, where recreational marijuana is legal, Brazil remains restrictive, allowing only low-THC hemp (less than 0.3%) for industrial and pharmaceutical applications.
Kiara Cardoso, founder of DNA Soluções em Biotecnologia, the company that won the court battle to begin hemp cultivation, foresees large-scale production in Brazil to supply the paper, textile, and food industries. However, early regulations may limit cultivation to controlled indoor environments, ensuring compliance with pharmaceutical standards.
Brazil’s potential cannabis boom could also deepen trade ties with China, the world’s largest hemp producer and a key trading partner. Other nations, including France and Paraguay, have already embraced industrial and medicinal cannabis, positioning Brazil to follow suit as regulatory clarity emerges.