The sesame market aims to achieve double the production of the previous season, which witnessed the harvest of 174 thousand tons on an area of 361 thousand hectares, indicating a 300-fold increase compared to the last decade. Sesame seeds, initially appreciated mainly by Easterners, are gaining ground in the Brazilian industry, arousing the interest of rural producers in search of economical and profitable options in the second harvest. The sesame saga in Brazilian lands began in the 1980s , when Túlio Benatti, owner of Sésamo Real, a factory in the interior of São Paulo, introduced the first seeds of the grain in the country. Over the following years, these seeds were distributed among farmers in Canarana, located 633 km from Cuiabá, in Mato Grosso. Start of cultivation The initial cultivation involved just a few farmers , but in 2017, the area dedicated to sesame in Canarana reached approximately 800 hectares, as reported by Marcos da Rosa, producer and president of the Brazilian Beans and Pulses Council. Currently, the city has become the main national producer, representing almost 50% of the total area, according to data from the National Supply Company (Conab). In the 2023/2024 season, the market aims to achieve double the production of the previous season, which witnessed the harvest of 174 thousand tons on an area of 361 thousand hectares, indicating a 300-fold increase compared to the last decade. Rosa highlights that production could be even greater if it weren't for the drought, emphasizing that a considerable portion of the harvest already has guaranteed buyers, including production from her own farm. Interest in sesame has increased even more in the current harvest, driven by the delay in planting soybeans and the climate risk associated with the second corn harvest. The decision to incorporate more sesame cultivation areas has been observed on different scales, from large companies such as BrasilAgro, which discussed the matter with AgFeed at the end of the year during a meeting with investors, to small farmers in the Northeast. The latter see increased agronomic viability and better commercialization prospects in sesame cultivation. The average value per ton of sesame destined for export fluctuates between US$ 1,400.00 and US$ 1,500.00, providing substantial profitability for producers. Given this context, there was a notable increase in sesame exports, rising from 42 thousand tons in 2022 to an impressive total of more than 151 thousand tons in 2023, representing a significant growth of 257%. Marcelo Luders, leader of the Brazilian Institute of Beans, Pulses and Special Harvests (Ibrafe), highlights that in 2022 Brazil contributed only 2% of the global market, whose transactions move around US$3.4 billion between producing and consuming nations of this product. product. These numbers indicate a vast potential for Brazil to conquer a more significant portion of this international market. Recently, China was asked for a phytosanitary agreement aimed at importing sesame from Brazil. The colossal Asian market, responsible for half of the global demand for this product, represents a strategic opportunity. At the same time, India appears as another important consumer, becoming the target of Brazilian initiatives to expand its sales. Apex (Brazilian Export Promotion Agency) conducted a recent study focused on the potential of Brazilian sesame in this country. According to the results of the study, India stands out as the second largest producer of sesame globally, also occupying the second position both in exports and as the 16th largest importer . In addition to its prominent production, the country is the second largest seed supplier in the world, registering exports of 234.8 thousand tons in 2022. 2023 In 2023, India emerged as the main destination for sesame produced in Brazil, totaling 53.7 thousand kilos or an amount equivalent to US$78 million, as revealed by data provided by Ibrafe. Next, countries such as Turkey, Guatemala and Saudi Arabia appear as subsequent destinations. Global sesame production has seen remarkable growth in the last decade, doubling from 10 to 20 million tons. Luders highlights the magnitude of this market, stating that Brazil is just beginning to explore its potential. In addition to exports, sesame gains relevance in the domestic market, being a viable alternative due to its vast potential for the production of derivatives, such as tahini and oil . Luders highlights the similarity of this product with peanuts, of which Brazil already holds a 7% share of the world market. Indeed, the demand for sesame is on the rise in the food industry, driven by the growth of the market for vegan and healthy products. However, there are more elements at play. In 2020, the cereal was added to the list of tax benefits of the National Program for the Production and Use of Biodiesel, increasing interest among producers as a viable option for planting during the soybean off-season. Rosa, from Canarana, highlights the increase in both production and prices, emphasizing the future challenge of investing in research to improve seeds . This effort is crucial to meet the demands of countries such as India and China, which prefer sweeter grains than those produced in Brazil, and to increase productivity in the field. According to Conab, Brazilian sesame productivity reached 482 kg per hectare in the last harvest, while Paraguay, Israel and producers in Texas, in the United States, reach up to 2 thousand kg per hectare . Rosa highlights that 95% of the sesame planted in Brazil uses the K3 variety , producing a more bitter grain, suitable for oils and essences, but less appreciated by Asians. To overcome this barrier, both Embrapa and the Instituto Mato Grossense do Algodão (IMA) are carrying out research into genetic improvement and new varieties of sesame. In 2020, Embrapa began testing the BRS Morena cultivar, which has characteristics desired by producers and consumers, including high productivity, early cycle and oil content greater than 50%. However, other varieties such as Seda and Anahí, sweeter and with greater commercial value, are more expensive and may have lower productivity than K3, depending on climatic conditions and terrain. Luders, from Ibrafe, highlights the scarcity of cultivars adapted to Brazil and emphasizes that, in addition to genetic improvement, improvements in management and machinery are essential. He points out a waste of between 30% and 40% in some crops due to mechanization, which requires adaptation of harvesters due to the quality of the sesame, which can result in seeds falling to the ground. Despite the challenges, progress in the last decade has been significant, and the outlook remains optimistic. Marcos da Rosa highlights that the sesame market in Brazil is still in its early stages, with ample room for growth.