Situação atual da produção de embriões bovinos no Brasil e no mundo / Current status of cattle embryo production in Brazil and in the world

A produção e transferência de embriões bovinos passou por importantes transformações nas últimas duas décadas, com elas, a posição relativa do Brasil no contexto mundial. O país passou de referência apenas regional, nos anos 1990, para maior produtor mundial entre os anos de 2012 e 2013, tornando-se líder no uso da produção in vitro de embriões (PIVE) e definindo tendências que seriam observadas nos anos subsequentes em diversos países. Para descrever esta trajetória, optou-se no presente artigo por caracterizar três momentos históricos (1997, 2007 e 2017), representativos das diferentes fases da evolução do uso da tecnologia no Brasil e no mundo. O contraste dos dados estatísticos destes anos demonstra o poder disruptivo da PIVE, caracterizando a tecnologia como um exemplo de inovação no segmento agropecuário. Da mesma forma, permite compreender as razões para o crescimento passado e, assim, projetar o potencial de crescimento futuro do mercado de embriões no Brasil.(AU)

The embryo production and transfer activity in cattle underwent remarkable changes over the past two decades and, along with them, the position of Brazil in the world scenario. This country went from a merely regional reference, in the 1990s, to be the largest global embryo producer between 2012 and 2013, leading the use of in vitro embryo production (IVEP) and defining trends that would be further observed in many countries. To describe such changes, in the current study we have chosen three historical moments (1997, 2007 and 2017), which represent the different phases of embryo industry development in Brazil and throughout world. The contrast of statistical data of these years demonstrates the disruptive power of IVEP, characterizing the technology as an example of innovation in the livestock sector. Besides, it allows the comprehension of the rationale supporting IVEP grow in the past, as well as the projection of the growth potential for Brazilian embryo industry in the near future.(AU)

Situação atual da produção de embriões bovinos no Brasil e no mundo / Current status of cattle embryo production in Brazil and in the world

A produção e transferência de embriões bovinos passou por importantes transformações nas últimas duas décadas, com elas, a posição relativa do Brasil no contexto mundial. O país passou de referência apenas regional, nos anos 1990, para maior produtor mundial entre os anos de 2012 e 2013, tornando-se líder no uso da produção in vitro de embriões (PIVE) e definindo tendências que seriam observadas nos anos subsequentes em diversos países. Para descrever esta trajetória, optou-se no presente artigo por caracterizar três momentos históricos (1997, 2007 e 2017), representativos das diferentes fases da evolução do uso da tecnologia no Brasil e no mundo. O contraste dos dados estatísticos destes anos demonstra o poder disruptivo da PIVE, caracterizando a tecnologia como um exemplo de inovação no segmento agropecuário. Da mesma forma, permite compreender as razões para o crescimento passado e, assim, projetar o potencial de crescimento futuro do mercado de embriões no Brasil.

The embryo production and transfer activity in cattle underwent remarkable changes over the past two decades and, along with them, the position of Brazil in the world scenario. This country went from a merely regional reference, in the 1990’s, to be the largest global embryo producer between 2012 and 2013, leading the use of in vitro embryo production (IVEP) and defining trends that would be further observed in many countries. To describe such changes, in the current study we have chosen three historical moments (1997, 2007 and 2017), which represent the different phases of embryo industry development in Brazil and throughout world. The contrast of statistical data of these years demonstrates the disruptive power of IVEP, characterizing the technology as an example of innovation in the livestock sector. Besides, it allows the comprehension of the rationale supporting IVEP grow in the past, as well as the projection of the growth potential for Brazilian embryo industry in the near future.

A historical perspective of embryo-related technologies in South America

Livestock production is of great importance for the economy of most South American countries, a region that accounts for 23.0% of the world cattle population (Food Agriculture Organization - FAO, 2017). Not surprisingly, the embryo industry is historically very active in this region, particularly in Argentina and Brazil. The field of bovine embryo transfer underwent a remarkable change in the past two decades in Brazil, mainly due to in vitro embryo production (IVEP). Total embryo production increased dramatically, along with constant changes in the main features of the embryo industry from market niches to mass production, from beef to the dairy sector, from zebu to European breeds. Recently, IVEP has also emerged in other South American countries. This review summarizes and describes factors driving the changes in the Brazilian embryo industry and discusses some of the impacts upon other embryo-related technologies.(AU)

A historical perspective of embryo-related technologies in South America

Livestock production is of great importance for the economy of most South American countries, a region that accounts for 23.0% of the world cattle population (Food Agriculture Organization - FAO, 2017). Not surprisingly, the embryo industry is historically very active in this region, particularly in Argentina and Brazil. The field of bovine embryo transfer underwent a remarkable change in the past two decades in Brazil, mainly due to in vitro embryo production (IVEP). Total embryo production increased dramatically, along with constant changes in the main features of the embryo industry – from market niches to mass production, from beef to the dairy sector, from zebu to European breeds. Recently, IVEP has also emerged in other South American countries. This review summarizes and describes factors driving the changes in the Brazilian embryo industry and discusses some of the impacts upon other embryo-related technologies.