According to a new report by Rabobank (Mato Grosso: Cornering the market), corn production in the Brazilian state Mato Grosso reached 26.4 million tonnes in 2017/18 season. This is 33% of the total Brazilian corn production and 15 times the volume produced in 2000/01 (1.8 million tonnes).

Adding value to corn

Increasing corn production and low local prices have focused the atention of corn-processing industries and of farmers on opportunities to add value to corn within the state. In recent years, efforts to add value to grain production within the state have resulted in expansion of animal production production (the most traditional means of adding value) and construction of a number of corn-based ethanol plants, with more in development. Regarding animal production, beef, poultry and pork production in Mato Grosso are expected to increase to 1.7 million tonne, 0.75 million tonnes and 0.30 million tonnes by 2023. This represents an additional 800,000 tonnes of animal protein. This is an increase of 40% compared to the current production.

Interest in corn ethanol and by-products

Assuming that all projects announced to date are completed, Mato Grosso’s corn ethanol production capacity is expected to increase from 0.6 billion litres to 2.0 billion litres in 3 to 5 years. The investment in corn ethabol is not limited to large corporates. Farmers in Mato Grosso are also analysing small-scale, on-farm ethanol plants (e.g. 5-10 million litres capacity) as alternatives to add value to their corn. The idea is to produce ethanol and to use the distiller’s grains on-farm for animal feed, such as for cattle in feedlots. According to Rabobank estimates (assuming prices in September 2018), such as investment would boost revenue by 150% compared to simply producing and selling corn.