Brazilian agriculture is known for its diversity and scale. Less well known is its extraordinary temporal, spatial, and technological dynamics. One example is a small oilseed, increasingly relevant in agribusiness: sesame . Previously, it was limited to small areas of manual cultivation, mainly in the semi-arid Northeast of Brazil. In 15 years, with the modernization and mechanization of cultivation systems, Brazil became a world exporter, guaranteed domestic supply, and opened up prospects for a range of products in the agri-food industry. In the past decade, sesame emerged as a mechanized crop, especially in Mato Grosso and Goiás. It replaced part of the second corn crop and reduced the risk of losses due to lack of rain, once the corn planting period had ended. Planted between March and April, it guarantees production, even where a second crop was previously impossible. In Brazil, the planted area has grown more than 20 times in the last 10 years . Seed, development, and marketing companies have taken risks and played a decisive role in this dynamic. In 2025, Brazil produced approximately 410,000 tons, cultivated in an area of 640,000 hectares. Total production grew by about 10%, driven by productivity gains. With producers exceeding one ton per hectare, the average productivity was 621 kg/ha in 2025. Sesame cultivation is concentrated in the Midwest, with gradual expansion into off-season areas in the North and Northeast. Mato Grosso is the largest producer and exporter, accounting for approximately 70% of the grain's production and foreign trade. Its planted area exceeds 400,000 hectares, with an estimated production of 289,000 tons. In the Araguaia Valley, Canarana boasts the largest continuous sesame area in the world, with over 100,000 hectares. In Goiás, the second largest producer, it follows the main soybean or cotton harvest. Tocantins completed its 2025 harvest in sync with Mato Grosso, with strong logistical appeal for the foreign market. The remainder is divided among Mato Grosso do Sul, Ceará, Piauí, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Bahia, and Minas Gerais. Increasingly, sesame is being cultivated by both small producers and integrated into mechanized off-season farming. Sesame ( Sesamum indicum ) is an annual plant of the Pedaliaceae family. Long before the olive tree and its oil, sesame was the first plant in history used in the production of vegetable oil. The genus Sesamum contains about 23 wild species, mostly African. Eight are from the Indian subcontinent, and two of them are the origin of cultivated sesame. The oldest archaeological traces of sesame appear in the Indus basin, between 2250 and 1740 BC. Etymology of the word sesame Seeds accompanied Tutankhamun to his tomb. Herodotus recorded its cultivation in the Persian Empire. Theophrastus described the plant. Pliny attributed its origin to India and medicinal uses. Apicius included sesame in Roman culinary recipes. The Portuguese word gergelim comes from the Vulgar Arabic jiljilan , derived from the Classical Arabic ģulģulãn . This term only remained in Portuguese and in Maltese ġulġlien , according to my research. The name sesame is a practically universal word. From the Latin sesamum , from the Greek sēsamon , both derived from the Semitic Akkadian šamaššamu , literally "oil plant". There is something sacred about sesame. The Hebrew word sumsum ( שׂוּמשׂוּם ) is like a duplication of shem (שֵׁם), the Name, that is, God, present in so many expressions of the Jewish and Christian faith (In the Name, the Holy Name, Blessed be the Name…). The Kabbalah reads in its letters shem-shamaim or Name of the Heavens. The Mishnah includes sesame oil ( shemen sumsum ) among those most indicated for the lights of Shabbat . Sesame is used to coat bread, in salads such as gersal, hummus and tahini , in the form of oils, margarines, in sweets such as halewua , bars, in drinks and plant-based "milks" ( sesame milk ). The lipid-rich seeds are used raw, ground or toasted in cooking and baking, or in the form of unrefined edible vegetable oil. Rich in protein and minerals, sesame has antioxidant properties , helps control cholesterol, reduces appetite, and is widely used in the diets of vegetarians and vegans. Beyond the agri-food sector, sesame has industrial applications in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, varnishes and paints, soaps, and shampoos. In areas with sandy soils or where corn presents a climatic risk, sesame is a good fit. For those seeking to diversify their production, in addition to soybeans and corn, the option of cotton requires investments, new machinery, and has a high cost. Sesame takes advantage of soybean equipment, with minor adjustments. It does not require high investments. In crop rotation, it contributes to nematode control and benefits from fertilization and management of previous crops. Cultivation faces challenges in planting and harvesting. Preparing the seedbed is demanding. It cannot be too deep and must provide good contact between soil and seed. The tiny size of the seed makes planting difficult with machines designed for larger seeds. Proper adjustments and discs are increasingly solving this problem in planters. Sesame's initial growth is slow. Weed competition has a strong impact on seedling population and production. Cultivation requires good desiccation of weeds before planting and careful control during the initial stages. Average productivity varies between 600 and 700 kg/ha. It can exceed one ton per hectare in more technologically advanced producers. Harvest losses are one of the biggest problems in mechanized cultivation. "Open Sesame" is the famous magic phrase from the tale Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves , from One Thousand and One Nights . It unlocked the secret entrance to a cave full of treasures and evokes the opening of sesame seed pods at maturity. This opening is one of the reasons for crop losses. The available varieties are very dehiscent. They open spontaneously upon maturation. The seeds detach, fall, and pile up at the bottom of the open pods. The wind, the cutting platform of the harvesters, the threshing system, the ventilation for cleaning impurities in the sieves… everything contributes to losses in the soil. These vary from 15 to 35%. That's a lot. Farmers, in collaboration with agricultural machinery industries, are seeking equipment better suited to harvesting. Producers are driving innovation, not the other way around. Now, an indehiscent variety with placental retention of seeds has been obtained and validated. Grain loss has dropped to 6% at harvest. This is essential for yields exceeding one ton per hectare. The IMA Araguaia cultivar combines high productivity, a medium-short cycle, resistance to Macrophomina and target spot, and low harvest loss thanks to high seed retention. It is also an alternative for small and medium-sized producers who lack the capital to acquire future sesame harvesters. Sesame is cultivated in more than 70 countries, mainly in Asia and Africa . India, Myanmar, and China account for more than 50% of world production, close to 4 million tons/year, on approximately 7.5 million hectares. Global demand for sesame continues to expand, growing by around 4% annually in volume and value. The market moves between 2 and 2.3 million tons. Brazil is already the 7th largest global exporter and holds 5.3% of the trade. In 2025, sesame exports hit a historical record, driven by the opening and consolidation of the Chinese market. Brazilian exports Until 2024, Brazil did not export a single grain of sesame to China. The main buyer of Brazilian sesame in 2025 was China, accounting for approximately 45% of the exported volume. In just three months after sanitary clearance, Brazil shipped 160,000 tons and became the 3rd largest supplier to the Asian country. India, the largest buyer in previous years, remained one of the main destinations and absorbs between 20 and 35% of Brazilian sesame. The country exports to Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Greece, Mexico… a total of more than 30 countries. More than 70% of all sesame exported by Brazil in 2025 went through the Paranaguá Container Terminal in Paraná, the main logistics corridor for shipments to Asia. The dynamism of agribusiness and the modernity of mechanized production have the potential, in the near future, to meet 30 to 40% of the world sesame market. What was announced in an article in Revista Oeste ( Issue 177 ) three years ago, regarding the role of innovation in sesame and the opening of markets, was not a pipe dream. In the medium term, the growth of cultivation will depend on the domestic market and increased consumption by Brazilians. There are many opportunities for entrepreneurship in this area of consumption, both wholesale and retail. Brazil has already discovered its treasure cave. It doesn't hold gold. It holds seeds. The professionalism of the true Brazilian Ali Babas—producers, seed companies, traders, and researchers—did the rest. The forty thieves are still out there. Open sesame!