BRICS Agriculture 2026: Complementarity Meets Tech Gap

Global South EXPOHUB AI Analytics · 2026-09-01

Economic development in BRICS+ agriculture centers on a structural advantage few blocs can match: the bloc holds raw material supply, fertilizer production, and consumer demand within its own borders, while the missing link remains technology to raise efficiency. Context: A Rare Structural Completeness BRICS+ generated around 20% of global agricultural export value in 2021 (UN Comtrade), with dominant positions in oilseeds (about 40%), cotton (about 45%) and grain (about 28% of export value, on par with the G7's 34%). Brazil supplied 73.6% of China's soybean imports in 2025, as China imported a record 111.8 million metric tons. Brazil's agribusiness sector exported USD 164.4 billion in 2024, the second-highest total on record, with China as its largest single market. Beyond raw commodities, the bloc controls a critical input: fertilizer. Russia is the world's largest fertilizer exporter, holding around 20% of the global market and targeting 25% by 2030. Nearly half of global fertilizer consumption occurs within BRICS, chiefly China and India. Brazil imports about 70% of its fertilizer needs, with Russia supplying close to a third of that volume — a supply-demand match built entirely inside the group. Key Numbers - BRICS+ generated around 20% of world agricultural export value in 2021 (UN Comtrade) - BRICS+ share of global cotton exports reached about 45%, and oilseeds around 40% - Brazil supplied 73.6% of China's soybean imports in 2025; its agribusiness sector exported USD 164.4 billion that year - Russia holds roughly 20% of global fertilizer exports and aims for 25% by 2030 - Nearly half of world fertilizer consumption happens inside BRICS, led by China and India - India counts 5,115 agritech startups, the second-highest number of any country after the US (7,579) - The global agritech market is projected to grow from USD 38.6 billion in 2026 to USD 58.8 billion by 2030 Deep Dive: Complementarity Without a Technology Bridge Few economic blocs combine raw material scale, input production and end-market demand as directly as BRICS+. Brazil, India and Russia supply grain, oilseed and cotton at scale; Russia and China anchor fertilizer supply and consumption; China's soybean demand alone absorbs nearly three-quarters of Brazil's exports. On paper, the pieces for a self-sufficient, resilient agricultural system are already in place. What is missing is the technology layer that converts raw complementarity into productivity gains. In India, post-harvest losses for some crops exceed 40%, and only about 4% of food moves through a cold chain, versus 70% in the UK — a gap that costs more than any tariff. The response is already visible: India has built the world's second-largest agritech startup ecosystem by count, showing that governments and entrepreneurs recognize the shortfall. But startup formation alone has not closed the funding gap with leaders like the US and China, and joint research between BRICS+ members has not kept pace with the depth of their trade ties. Closing that gap through joint R&D, technology exchange and cross-border agri-tech investment is emerging as a more consequential lever for food security than further growth in raw commodity volumes. What This Means for Business For agribusiness exporters: intra-bloc complementarity — Brazilian soy, Russian fertilizer, Chinese and Indian demand — supports continued investment in processing, logistics and storage infrastructure along these corridors. For agritech investors: India's large and growing startup base, combined with unresolved cold-chain gaps, points to a market actively building solutions but still short on capital relative to its scale. For policymakers: joint technology development, rather than expanding raw trade volumes, is the more direct route to raising agricultural productivity across the bloc. Frequently Asked Questions What share of global agricultural trade does BRICS+ hold? BRICS+ generated around 20% of world agricultural export value in 2021, per UN Comtrade data analyzed by the Leibniz Institute (IAMO). How dependent is China on Brazilian soybeans? Brazil supplied 73.6% of China's soybean imports in 2025, as China's total imports hit a record 111.8 million metric tons. How does BRICS+ fertilizer supply support the bloc's agriculture? Russia holds about 20% of global fertilizer exports and supplies close to a third of Brazil's fertilizer imports, while China and India account for much of the bloc's fertilizer consumption. Is BRICS+ closing its agri-tech gap? India has built the world's second-largest agritech startup ecosystem, with 5,115 startups, though funding still trails the US and China. Post-harvest losses in India remain above 40% for some crops. Related Content For the broader picture of India's chairship, see our pillar brief on BRICS 2026 India: Economic Power & the 18th Summit. For trade barriers across the bloc, see Intra-BRICS Trade: Barriers & Integration Challenges. Event details and the full agenda are on our BRICS Business Forum India 2026 page.

Context event: BRICS Business Forum

Agriculture · India · BRICS · SCO