The cultivation of cannabis emerges as one of the major bets for diversification and innovation in Brazilian agribusiness. With applications beyond medicinal use, the plant is also used in construction, production of biofuels, bioplastics, textiles, animal and human nutrition — a robust production chain that is attracting investments and mobilizing universities, startups, and large industries inside and outside the country.

According to a survey by Kaya Mind, the cannabis market in Brazil could generate up to R$ 1 billion by 2025, even before the definitive regulation of cultivation. Currently, more than 672 thousand patients use plant-based medications in the country, which drives the industry through the importation of plant-based products via RDC 660, sales in pharmacies via RDC 327, and access through patient associations and self-cultivation, verticals that demonstrate the strength of the sector. But the advancements do not stop there.

Agribusiness companies are already preparing to meet this new demand. In the market, it is already possible to find manufacturers specialized in automated greenhouses, a company focused on bioinputs, with a focus on developing specific technologies for the cultivation of medicinal cannabis. Abroad, sector players already offer processing machinery adapted for the Brazilian market.

Embrapa, in partnership with 31 other research institutions — including 29 universities and the Brazilian Society for the Advancement of Science (SBPC) — is preparing a Technical Note to be delivered to the Federal Government by August 15. The document aims to present an overview of the technical and procedural challenges faced by institutions conducting cannabis research in Brazil, with the goal of strengthening and advancing the scientific regulation process of the plant in the country.

In addition, the academic sector is also moving. The Federal University of Lavras (UFLA) has launched a project focused on training and disseminating technical knowledge on pest control in cannabis cultivation, providing support to producers and professionals in the rural area who are seeking to prepare for the future opening of the legal market.

This promising scenario was reinforced by agribusiness consultant Carlos Cogo during the Andav 2025 Congress, held from August 5 to 7 in São Paulo. With 30 years of experience in the sector and a background in the Ministry of Agriculture, Cogo highlighted that Brazil has the agronomic conditions, crop structure, and market to lead global production of the plant.

“Another opportunity. We have areas for this. Brazil already has a tradition of planting in second and third crops — that is, in areas it already occupies in the summer. It can occupy these areas with various crops, including cannabis.”

According to Cogo's analysis, the potential also reflects international integration:

“It can become a very interesting, important, and prominent global player, as has been happening with most commodities. So, here I think the trend is to grow, seize opportunities — all of them — whether in the domestic market, but mainly in the external market.”

The specialist's remarks come at a strategic moment. On August 1, Minister Regina Helena Costa of the Superior Court of Justice (STJ) summoned the Union and Anvisa to report on the progress of the regulation of cannabis cultivation with low THC content for medicinal purposes, with a deadline until September 30. The decision is part of an action plan initiated in November 2024, when the STJ ordered the creation of an official schedule by the federal government, Anvisa, and the Ministry of Agriculture.

Nevertheless, the private sector continues to advance, driven by demand and the prospect of global growth. For Carlos Cogo, the cultural transformation around cannabis is essential for Brazil to harness this potential:

“This prejudice is diminishing as we inform society well and understand the great benefit that can be derived from it, as a country that produces medicines, solutions — and not problems.”, said the specialist, who emphasized: “It is necessary to remove this from a toxic environment, from a discussion tainted by international trafficking issues, and take it to a medicinal horizon — a horizon that actually exists, and is the best of all.”

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