Brazil’s national agricultural research agency, Embrapa (Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation), has received regulatory approval from the health agency Anvisa (National Health Surveillance Agency) to commence research into cannabis cultivation. The landmark decision, which was welcomed by Embrapa researchers on Friday, November 21, 2025, marks a major step that positions Brazil closer to formally authorizing the cultivation of the plant for medicinal and industrial purposes. The authorization, which is clearly limited to the scientific field and subject to strict controls and on-site inspections, does not permit the commercialization of any derivative products.
The authorization grants Embrapa unprecedented permission to build its first-ever cannabis seed bank and develop long-term projects aimed at genetically improving the plant for various applications. This research is expected to last at least 12 years. Embrapa will focus on adapting varieties to Brazil’s tropical climate and identifying potential regional production hubs. The agency’s historical efforts since the 1970s transformed Brazil into the world’s largest producer and exporter of soybeans, and similar success is now being sought in the cannabis segment.The project is crucial for diversifying Brazil’s agricultural exports and strengthening its technological autonomy in agricultural inputs. With an initial R$13 million (approximately $2.41 million) in public funding released for the research, Embrapa is also open to partnership with the private sector. The government is aiming to strengthen national scientific knowledge on cannabis, support future public policies, and potentially reduce the high cost of imported medicinal cannabis products
