Friday July 4th, 2025

Brazil is one of the largest producers and exporters of fruit in the world, with emphasis on mangoes, melons, grapes and papayas. In recent years, the adoption of innovative technologies has profoundly transformed the production chain, from the field to the consumer’s table, promoting gains in productivity, sustainability and quality.

Precision agriculture has been one of the main levers of modernization in Brazilian fruit farming. With the use of sensors, drones and analysis software, producers can monitor soil conditions, climate and plant health in real time, allowing for more assertive and efficient decisions.

More sustainable agricultural practices have led to the widespread adoption of bio-inputs in Brazilian fruit farming. These products, derived from microorganisms and plant extracts, replace chemical fertilizers and pesticides, promoting soil and plant health. In addition, drip irrigation systems have been implemented to optimize water use, supplying it directly to the roots of plants in a controlled manner, which is especially important in semi-arid regions such as the São Francisco Valley.

The efficiency of fruit distribution has also been improved with the use of sustainable packaging and traceability technologies. Apeel Sciences, for example, is developing an edible coating that doubles storage time, reducing waste. It explains that the coating on fruits, which is entirely plant-based and without chemical additives, creates an invisible, colorless and odorless film, slowing the ripening process of the fruit.

Abrafrutas’ technical manager, Jorge de Souza, closely monitors the development of technologies for the Brazilian sector and welcomes new solutions. “Year after year, Brazil works on innovations to improve the sector. This is evident in the growth in production and exports in recent years,” he said. According to Souza, the country should continue to be the world’s leading supplier of fruit due to new markets with Asian countries and negotiations on new trade routes.

All of these investments are in addition to recent investments in port infrastructure in the Northeast, marking a new era in Brazilian fruit farming. The inauguration of a direct sea route between Brazil and China, connecting the ports of Salvador (BA) and Santana (AP) to the port of Gaolan, in the Chinese city of Zhuhai, promises to reduce the time it takes to transport goods from 60 to approximately 30 days. This initiative will speed up the flow of fresh fruit, such as melons and grapes, in addition to reducing logistics costs by up to 30%, increasing the competitiveness of Brazilian products in the Asian market.