The Brazil Superfoods project aims to bolster Brazil’s position in the global market for beans, pulses, and special crops such as sesame seeds, chia, and popcorn. A significant step in this initiative is the newly announced R$3.5 million partnership between ApexBrasil and IBRAFE, dedicated to promoting the internationalization of these nutrient-rich “superfoods.”
With global consumption of protein alternatives expected to rise dramatically by 2030, the market for these superfoods could reach $162 billion. Brazil’s strategic advantage includes being the world’s second-largest producer of dry beans, thanks to its unique capability of harvesting beans three times annually. Despite a dip in international sales in recent years, the sector sees ample potential for growth, aiming for sector exports to hit $260 million by 2025.
The partnership focuses on expanding the export market through targeted initiatives, such as fairs and missions in key consumer markets like Asia and hosting international buyers in Brazil. Additionally, the project emphasizes supporting new exporters, women-led enterprises, and producers from the North and Northeast regions of Brazil.
The Brazilian Dry Beans, Pulses, and Special Crops Institute (IBRAFE) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the advocacy, representation, and development of the bean, pulses, and special crops sector in Brazil. Driven by a profound appreciation for beans, lentils, peas, chickpeas, popcorn, and sesame, IBRAFE believes that beans are more than just a product; they represent a social cause due to their significant nutritional and economic impact on both consumers and producers.
This passion has led to a coalition of enthusiasts, including researchers, seed producers, farmers, brokers, packagers, exporters, gastronomists, and renowned chefs. Together, they foster a continual revolution grounded in diverse scientific disciplines, aimed at enhancing the sector’s growth and sustainability.
IBRAFE’s mission is to support, promote, and disseminate the production and consumption of beans and pulses in Brazil, recognizing them as vital sources of health and wealth. By facilitating access to knowledge through integrated market information systems, organizing courses, seminars, and forums, and advocating for the sector with public and private entities both nationally and internationally, IBRAFE strengthens every link in the value chain from research to the end consumer.
Their core values emphasize the importance of information for decision-making, the exchange of ideas among professionals, fair pricing reflective of regional specificities, and the integration of technology in production and commercialization. Through these efforts, IBRAFE seeks to restore Brazilian pride in beans, the food that most represents them globally, and foster innovative culinary creations that celebrate the diversity of Brazilian culture.
The Brazilian Agency of Trade and Investment Promotion (ApexBrasil) is dedicated to promoting Brazilian products and services abroad while attracting foreign investments into strategic sectors of the Brazilian economy. To achieve these goals, ApexBrasil undertakes a variety of commercial promotion activities, including trade missions, business rounds, and support for Brazilian companies participating in major international fairs.
The agency provides comprehensive support to Brazilian companies aiming to enter and expand in international markets, offering services such as market intelligence, business qualification, commercial promotion, and international expansion strategies. With a mission to expand Brazil’s presence in the global economy and promote sustainable development, ApexBrasil strives to be a digital and excellent agency, recognized worldwide as a key partner in promoting sustainable international business in economic, environmental, social, and governance terms.
