7 Amazing Facts About Wheat Production Map You Need to Know

Wheat is one of the most important crops in the world, providing food for billions of people and feed for livestock. Wheat production map shows the distribution and quantity of wheat grown in different regions and countries. In this article, we will explore some amazing facts about wheat production map that you need to know.

Fact 1: The European Union is the largest wheat producer in the world

According to the USDA, the European Union produced 138.2 million metric tons of wheat in 2021, accounting for 18% of the world’s total production. France, Germany, Poland, Italy, and Spain are the top five wheat-producing countries in the EU. The EU has a diverse climate and soil conditions that allow it to grow different types of wheat, such as soft wheat, durum wheat, and spelt.

Fact 2: China is the second largest wheat producer and the largest consumer

China produced 136.9 million metric tons of wheat in 2021, ranking second in the world after the EU. China also consumed 144.5 million metric tons of wheat, making it the largest wheat consumer in the world. Wheat is a staple food in China, especially in the northern regions where rice is less suitable. Wheat is used to make various products, such as noodles, dumplings, bread, and pastries.

Fact 3: India is the third largest wheat producer and the second largest consumer

India produced 109.6 million metric tons of wheat in 2021, ranking third in the world after the EU and China. India also consumed 103.5 million metric tons of wheat, making it the second largest wheat consumer in the world after China. Wheat is a major crop in India, especially in the northern states where it is grown during the winter season. Wheat is used to make various products, such as chapati, paratha, naan, and puri.

Fact 4: Russia is the fourth largest wheat producer and the largest exporter

Russia produced 75.2 million metric tons of wheat in 2021, ranking fourth in the world after the EU, China, and India. Russia also exported 40 million metric tons of wheat, making it the largest wheat exporter in the world. Russia has a vast territory and a favorable climate for growing wheat, especially in the southern regions where it is grown during the summer season. Wheat is mainly used for domestic consumption and animal feed.

Fact 5: The United States is the fifth largest wheat producer and the third largest exporter

The United States produced 44.8 million metric tons of wheat in 2021, ranking fifth in the world after the EU, China, India, and Russia. The United States also exported 24 million metric tons of wheat, making it the third largest wheat exporter in the world after Russia and Canada. The United States has a diverse geography and climate that allow it to grow different types of wheat, such as hard red winter, hard red spring, soft red winter, durum, and white.

Fact 6: Australia is the sixth largest wheat producer and the fourth largest exporter

Australia produced 36.2 million metric tons of wheat in 2021, ranking sixth in the world after the EU, China, India, Russia, and the United States. Australia also exported 22 million metric tons of wheat, making it the fourth largest wheat exporter in the world after Russia, Canada, and the United States. Australia has a dry and hot climate that is suitable for growing hard and drought-tolerant varieties of wheat.

Fact 7: Wheat production map can help farmers and policymakers make better decisions

Wheat production map can provide useful information for farmers and policymakers to plan and manage their wheat cultivation and trade. For example, farmers can use wheat production map to compare their yields with other regions and countries and identify potential markets for their products. Policymakers can use wheat production map to monitor global supply and demand trends and formulate policies to ensure food security and sustainability.

Wheat Production Map: A Global Overview

Wheat is one of the most important cereal crops in the world, providing food for billions of people and feed for livestock. Wheat production is influenced by many factors, such as climate, soil, pests, diseases, irrigation, fertilization, and market demand. In this blog post, we will explore the global map of wheat production, highlighting the top ten wheat-producing countries and regions, their trends, challenges, and opportunities.

Top Ten Wheat-Producing Countries and Regions

According to the USDA’s PS&D Online database, the world wheat production in 2021 was estimated at 781 million metric tons (MT), with the European Union (EU) being the largest producer with 138 million MT, followed by China with 137 million MT, and India with 110 million MT. The following table shows the top ten wheat-producing countries and regions in 2021, their share of world production, and their main sub-national areas of production.

Rank	Country/Region	Percent of World Production (%)	Production (1000 MT)	Main Sub-National Areas of Production
1	European Union	18	138,244	France (24%), Germany (15%), Poland (6%), Italy (5%), Spain (4%)
2	China	18	136,946	Henan (28%), Shandong (19%), Anhui (12%), Hebei (11%), Jiangsu (10%)
3	India	14	109,586	Uttar Pradesh (30%), Madhya Pradesh (23%), Punjab (15%), Rajasthan (10%), Haryana (10%)
4	Russia	10	75,158	Krasnodarskiy Kray (12%), Stavropolskiy Kray (10%), Rostovskaya Oblast (9%), Altayskiy Kray (5%), Omskaya Oblast (4%)
5	United States	6	44,804	Kansas (18%), North Dakota (16%), Montana (10%), Washington (8%), Oklahoma (6%)
6	Australia	5	36,237	New South Wales (38%), Western Australia (31%), South Australia (17%)
7	Ukraine	4	33,007	Kharkivska (8%), Dnipropetrovska (7%), Odeska (7%), Vinnytska (7%), Zaporizka (7%)
8	Pakistan	4	27,464	Punjab (77%), Sindh (15%)
9	Canada	3	22,422	Saskatchewan (45%), Alberta (32%), Manitoba (15%), Ontario (6%)
10	Argentina	3	22,150	Buenos Aires (42%), Córdoba (20%), Santa Fe (18%)

Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities

The global wheat production has increased by about 20% in the last decade, mainly due to higher yields and improved varieties. However, wheat production also faces many challenges, such as climate change, water scarcity, soil degradation, pests and diseases, trade barriers, and changing consumer preferences. Some of the major trends, challenges, and opportunities for wheat production in the world are:

Climate change

Climate change is expected to affect wheat production in various ways, such as altering the length and timing of growing seasons, increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, affecting water availability and quality, and increasing the risk of pests and diseases. Some regions may benefit from warmer temperatures and longer growing seasons, while others may suffer from heat stress, drought, flooding, and salinity. Wheat producers need to adapt to the changing climate by adopting resilient varieties, improving irrigation and drainage systems, implementing soil and water conservation practices, and diversifying their cropping systems.

Water scarcity

Water is a critical input for wheat production, especially in irrigated areas. However, water scarcity is a growing problem in many parts of the world, due to increasing demand from agriculture, industry, and domestic use, as well as declining supply from groundwater depletion, surface water pollution, and climate change. Wheat producers need to improve their water use efficiency by adopting improved irrigation technologies and methods, such as drip irrigation, sprinkler irrigation, deficit irrigation, and fertigation. They also need to optimize their water allocation and management by using crop models, remote sensing, and decision support tools.

Soil degradation

Soil is the foundation of wheat production, providing nutrients, water, and physical support for plant growth. However, soil degradation is a serious threat to wheat production, caused by factors such as erosion, compaction, salinization, acidification, nutrient depletion, and organic matter loss. Soil degradation reduces the productivity and profitability of wheat production, as well as its environmental and social benefits. Wheat producers need to restore and maintain their soil health by applying organic and inorganic fertilizers, practicing crop rotation and intercropping, using cover crops and mulches, minimizing tillage and soil disturbance, and enhancing soil biodiversity.

Pests and diseases

Pests and diseases are major biotic constraints to wheat production, causing significant yield losses and quality reductions. Some of the most important pests and diseases of wheat include aphids, armyworms, cutworms, hessian flies, nematodes, rusts, fusarium head blight, septoria leaf blotch, powdery mildew, and wheat streak mosaic virus. Wheat producers need to control pests and diseases by adopting integrated pest management (IPM) strategies, such as using resistant varieties, monitoring pest and disease incidence and severity, applying biological and chemical pesticides judiciously, practicing cultural and mechanical control methods, and enhancing natural enemies and biological control agents.

Trade barriers

Trade is an important factor for wheat production, as it affects the supply and demand of wheat in the global market. However, trade barriers, such as tariffs, quotas, subsidies, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, and non-tariff measures, can distort the trade flows and prices of wheat, creating inefficiencies and inequalities in the wheat sector. Wheat producers need to overcome trade barriers by participating in trade negotiations and agreements, complying with trade rules and standards, enhancing their competitiveness and quality, and diversifying their markets and products.

Changing consumer preferences

Consumer preferences are changing due to factors such as income growth, urbanization, education, health awareness, and environmental consciousness. Consumers are demanding more diverse, nutritious, safe, and convenient wheat products, such as whole grain breads, pasta, noodles, cereals, snacks, and beverages. Wheat producers need to meet the changing consumer preferences by developing new varieties with improved agronomic, nutritional, and processing qualities, innovating new products with added value and functionality, improving food safety and traceability systems, and promoting the health and environmental benefits of wheat consumption.

Wheat production is a complex and dynamic system that involves many actors, factors, and interactions at different scales. Wheat production is also a vital component of global food security, livelihoods, and sustainability. Understanding the global map of wheat production can help us to appreciate the diversity, challenges, and opportunities of wheat production in the world. It can also help us to identify the gaps, needs, and priorities for research, development, and policy interventions to enhance the productivity, profitability, and resilience of wheat production in the face of changing climate, markets, and consumers.

References:

https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL/visualize

http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QC/

http://faostat3.fao.org/

https://ipad.fas.usda.gov/countrysummary/Default.aspx?id=US&crop=Wheat
https://ipad.fas.usda.gov/cropexplorer/cropview/commodityView.aspx?cropid=0410000&sel_year=2021&rankby=Production
https://www.nass.usda.gov/Charts_and_Maps/Crops_County/CropsLongDesc.php

https://ipad.fas.usda.gov/countrysummary/Default.aspx?id=US&crop=Wheat

https://ipad.fas.usda.gov/cropexplorer/cropview/commodityView.aspx?cropid=0410000&sel_year=2021&rankby=Production

https://www.nass.usda.gov/Charts_and_Maps/Crops_County/CropsLongDesc.php