Analysis and description of rapeseed value chain in Uruguay for the 2021/22 crop

Abstract

In view of the important growth of rapeseed (Brassica napus) in recent years in Uruguay, this paper describes and analyzes the rapeseed value chain in Uruguay for the 2021/2022 crop, with the aim of quantifying the Gross Value Added of the chain. Five phases and their respective interactions were defined, and costs and Gross Value of Production were estimated and analyzed for each of them. These values were used to create an input-output matrix, resulting in a Gross Value of Production of U$S 601,576,000 and costs amounting to U$S 381,162,000, which generated a Gross Value Added of U$S 220,414,000. From these values, it can be concluded that the agricultural phase was the one that added the greatest value to the chain (38%), followed by the agricultural services phase, which contributed 14%, and the input supply phase, with 10%. In addition, since 77% of the rapeseed crop was exported, involving minimal grain transformation processes, the storage and export phase only contributed 9% to Gross Value Added. The industrial phase represented 8% of the total Gross Value Added of the chain because only 23% of rapeseed production was industrialized. Regarding the Gross Value Added in relation to the Gross Value of Production, the agricultural phase accounted for 42%; industry for 24%; and the storage and export phase for 11%. Finally, the Gross Value Added of the rapeseed value chain in Uruguay for the 2021/2022 harvest was 37%.