Used in several food products, sesame has great potential for cultivation in the country, but still faces challenges that impact its average productivity Sesame cultivation in Brazil has grown considerably in recent years. Compared to 2023, there was an expansion in the planted area of 83%, going from 361 thousand to 660 thousand hectares, according to Conab. This was the largest expansion of agricultural area in Brazil, second only to soybeans. Production also saw a significant increase, reaching 107%, going from 174 thousand to 361 thousand tons, mainly due to low production costs and good profitability when compared to corn. However, despite the growth, the sesame industry in Brazil faces important challenges, such as low productivity due to insufficient scientific knowledge, scarce technologies, lack of specific mechanization and seed dehiscence, a natural process of opening the capsules and releasing the seeds before the harvest period, which can lead to large losses. Sesame is an annual herbaceous plant that originates from Asia. Its seed has a high oil content of high nutritional quality and is the main product sold on the global market, being processed to obtain oil and food products. A significant part of the sesame produced in Brazil is exported and is used to produce oil and to manufacture cosmetics. The sesame plant is resistant to drought conditions and has become a viable alternative for producers in the Central-West region, given its low production costs and low fertilization requirements. In Mato Grosso, the window for planting sesame begins in February and extends to mid-March, while the harvest occurs between May and June and must be carried out before the capsules open. “Regarding production costs, sesame is a viable alternative to second-crop corn due to its good profitability and low total costs, but its market has less liquidity compared to the corn and soybean markets, with fewer participants and lower demand, being more similar to the bean market,” points out Cesar de Castro Alves, manager of Itaú BBA’s Agro Consulting. Sesame exports from Brazil have been increasing in recent years, with India and Vietnam being the main destinations. Furthermore, the possible opening of the Chinese market to Brazilian sesame presents an important opportunity, because China is the largest global importer and the only major buyer that has shown strong expansion in the last decade: “With sesame, Brazil has the potential to conquer new markets, especially the Chinese one”, says Cesar.