Chicken is expected to have the highest rate of growth in production between 2011/2012 to 2021/2022 with an annual growth projected to be 4.2 per cent, followed by beef, with growth estimated for the period at 2.1 per cent per year. Pork is expected to have a growth rate of two per cent per year.

The projections on consumption for the period show a growing preference among Brazilian consumers for chicken meat.

The increase projected for the next 10 years is 2.7 per cent per year. This means a domestic consumption of 12.8 million tonnes of chicken meat and 9.4 million tonnes for beef.

Beef takes second place in the increase in consumption with an estimated annual rate of two per cent between 2011/2012 to 2021/2022.

In contrast, the projected annual consumption of pork for the period is 1.8 per cent for the next year.

The study also forecasts a favourable environment for Brazilian exports, especially for meat, poultry and pigs.

The most dynamic products in agribusiness should be cotton, soybeans, chicken, sugar, corn and cellulose, which show the greatest potential for export growth over the next 10 years.

Many are expected to have significant increases in production next year with soybeans leading the way with a 25.1 per cent increase, chicken meat 56.1 per cent, beef 32.3 per cent, sugar 25.7 per cent, coffee 41.2 per cent, apples 35.8 per cent and cellulose 29.7 per cent.

The forecasts for increases in production, consumption and trade are contained in the "Agribusiness Projections 2011/2012 to 2020/2021" report conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA), conducted in partnership with the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa).