An analysis of the historic transformation of Brazil’s agriculture offers insight for planners, investors, producers, and consumers alike. Understanding how Brazil shifted its focus from prioritizing a few export crops to sustaining a diversified range of products can suggest ways to overcome the daunting challenges facing global agriculture in the twenty-first century. And, given the historically close ties between the United States and Brazil related to agriculture, a review of the evolution of that relationship can suggest how international ties may influence the agricultural destiny of today’s developing nations.