Harvesting the World's Breadbasket: Top Wheat-Producing Countries Fuel Global Food Security

Wheat is a commonly farmed crop whose seed is a grain that is utilized as a staple food all over the world. The most significant wheat types are common wheat (Triticum aestivum), durum wheat (T. durum), and club wheat (T. compactum). Wheat is grown as a commercial crop because it generates a high yield per unit area, grows well in temperate climates with a somewhat short growing season, and produces a versatile, high-quality flour. Wheat flour is mostly used to produce bread, pasta, cereal, pastries, cookies, crackers, muffins, tortillas, and pitas.

According to the International Grains Council’s July report, global wheat output is expected to reach 770 million tonnes in 2022-23, down from 781 million tonnes in 2021-22, with 195 million tonnes available for sale.

According to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), a small number of nations produce the majority of the world’s wheat, and even fewer are significant exporters. Based on total yield in tonnes from 2000 to 2020 and production and consumption predictions for 2022–2023, below are the top 10 nations in the world for wheat production.

Top 10 wheat-producing countries

CHINA

With 2.4 billion tonnes, or 17% of the world’s total production of wheat in the first two decades of the twenty-first century, China is by far the greatest producer in the world. The world’s greatest eater of wheat, with 1.4 billion people, is an Asian country. In 2022–2023, China is expected to produce 135.8 million tonnes of wheat and consume 141 million tonnes, according to the IGC.

INDIA

With 1.8 billion tonnes, India has contributed 12.5% of the world’s total wheat production over the past 20 years, but it also consumes the majority of what it produces. With 1.38 billion people, India would produce 105 million tonnes of wheat in 2022–2023 while consuming 104.5 million tonnes, according to projections.

RUSSIA

Russia holds the distinction of being the biggest exporter of wheat, producing 1.2 billion tonnes from 2000 to 2020, accounting for 8.4% of the total. Russia will consume 44.4 million tonnes of the 85.2 million tonnes of wheat that the IGC anticipates will be produced in 2022–2023 while also exporting 37.6 million tonnes.

UNITED STATES

With 1.2 billion tonnes produced between 2000 and 2020, the United States produced 8.4% of the world’s wheat and is a significant exporter as well. The IGC estimates that the

US will produce 48 million tonnes between 2022 and 2023, use 30.9 million tonnes, and export 22 million tonnes. After Russia, the United States is the second-largest exporter in the world.

FRANCE

France is the leading grower in the European Union, contributing 767 million tonnes, or 5.4%, of the global wheat production from 2000 to 2020. On the basis of 32.89 million tonnes of output, the farm office FranceAgriMer forecasts 17.3 million tonnes of wheat exports in 2022–23.

CANADA

Canada produced 4% of the world’s wheat between 2000 and 2020, or 571 million tonnes. In 2022–2023, the IGC forecasts that Canada will produce 32.4 million tonnes of wheat and export 22.8 million tonnes to international markets.

GERMANY

Germany, the second-largest producer of wheat in the EU after France, increased its production by 4.5% (or 491 million tonnes) between 2000 and 2020. The federation of agricultural cooperatives in Germany projects a wheat yield of 22.65 million tonnes in 2022.

PAKISTAN

With 482 million tonnes, Pakistan produced 3.4% of the total amount of wheat produced worldwide from 2000 to 2020. The US Department of Agriculture predicts that 25.4 million tonnes of wheat will be produced in 2022–2023 while 29.2 million tonnes will be consumed.

AUSTRALIA

Australia, the smallest country in the top 10 countries by population with 25.7 million, has contributed more to world wheat export markets in the twenty-first century, providing 3.2% of the total for the first two decades with 456 million tonnes. According to the IGC, output will reach 30.6 million tonnes in 2022–2023 and exports would reach 24.7 million tonnes.

UKRAINE

With a harvest of 433 million tonnes, Ukraine has consistently been among the top five producers of wheat in the world, contributing 3.1% of the global total from 2000 to 2020. Since Russia’s invasion on February 24, Ukraine’s 2022–2023 wheat output projections have declined; still, the IGC projects a harvest of 19.4 million tonnes, with 10 million tonnes going for export.