Brazil: High productivity and reduced costs saved the 2025 campaign
Record productivity and cost reductions in major producing regions demonstrate why efficiency was the great "savior of agriculture" in 2025.
The November 2025 edition of Hortifruti Brasil magazine (Productivity “saves the harvest” in 2025) analyzes in depth the national potato harvest, marked by a paradoxical scenario: one of the lowest prices in the last two decades and, simultaneously, the highest productivity rates in recent history.
According to Cepea’s real price series (deflated by the IGP-DI and starting in January 2001), the partial average for 2025 is the fourth lowest in the historical series, considering the period from January to October. This result reflects strong supply pressure in the market, a direct consequence of the abundant harvest recorded in the main producing regions.
Even with the low average price in 2025, the productive efficiency observed in centers like Vargem Grande do Sul (SP) and southern Minas Gerais (MG) prevented more severe losses. Increased productivity reduced the unit cost per sack, becoming the main factor sustaining the producers’ economy.
“Productive efficiency has become the main shield against crises. The challenge lies in transforming this individual efficiency into collective coordination among the links in the chain,” highlights João Paulo Bernardes Deleo, researcher at Cepea/Esalq-USP and head of studies on the cost of potato production.
Simulation in Vargem Grande do Sul: productivity as a decisive factor
The cost simulation presented in this edition (see infographic) highlights how productivity was crucial to mitigating losses in 2025.
In Vargem Grande do Sul (SP), even with an average productivity of 1,600 sacks/ha and a cost of R$ 31.04/sack, the average price of R$ 27.60/sack resulted in income 11% below cost.
The study shows that: • With 1,400 sc/ha (2017 level), the loss would be -23.4%; • With 1,200 sc/ha (2024 level), the negative result would reach -36%; • Only with 1,783 sc/ha —the equilibrium productivity— would the producer cover production costs, a performance achieved only by a highly efficient minority.
In addition to the studies conducted in Vargem Grande do Sul (SP) for 300-hectare modules, the study presents results from other production profiles. You will find all the details in the cover article of this edition. The access link is: https://www.hfbrasil.org.br/br/especial-batata-produtividade-salva-a-lavoura-em-2025.aspx/
Looking ahead, the balance between productive efficiency, risk management, and market intelligence will be crucial to ensuring the economic sustainability of potato farming in Brazil, according to João Paulo Deleo, potato research coordinator at Cepea.
“When everyone is producing well, individual efficiency becomes a collective challenge (increasing supply). The future of potato farming will depend on the balance between productivity, risk management, and market intelligence,” Deleo emphasizes.
Read the full edition at the following link: https://www.hfbrasil.org.br/br/especial-batata-produtividade-salva-a-lavoura-em-2025.aspx
Fuente: hfbrasil.org.br/
