• French think tank coins “CUBITA” for six agricultural powers
• Group accounts for one-third of global farm exports
• Report says members could reshape food geopolitics

Nearly 25 years after the BRICS acronym was coined, a new term is entering the global lexicon: CUBITA. Combining agricultural potential, fertile land and strategic positions in global trade, these six countries represent an emerging force that could reshape global food and economic power dynamics.

That is the assessment of Club Déméter, a French think tank focused on global agriculture and food security. The group introduced the acronym in its 32nd report, “Appétits stratégiques et pivots agricoles,” released on Thursday, Feb. 19.

Who are the CUBITA and how much weight do they carry?

CUBITA brings together the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ukraine, Brazil, Indonesia, Turkey and Australia. Collectively, they account for 15% of global land area and 10% of the world’s population.

Beyond geography, they are key players in global agricultural markets. Together, they account for roughly one-third of global agricultural exports. In cereals alone, they represented 25% of world trade in the 2024/2025 season, according to FAO estimates.

Four of the six, namely the DRC, Brazil, Indonesia and Australia, also hold around 20% of the world’s forest area.

“What links the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ukraine, Brazil, Indonesia, Turkey and Australia is not a single indicator, but the combination of multiple strategic assets: land and ecosystems, demographic and cultural depth, production and export capacity, key trade corridors and geopolitical fault lines, as well as climate and political vulnerabilities,” the report’s authors said.

Why could they shape the future of global agriculture?

While the DRC contributes the least economically within the group, it holds an estimated 80 million hectares of arable land. Yet only about 10% of that potential is currently cultivated. Other members are already deeply embedded in global markets.

Brazil, Ukraine and Australia rank among the world’s leading grain producers and exporters. They generate large export surpluses of wheat, corn and soybeans, as well as poultry and beef. Indonesia plays a pivotal role in global palm oil markets.

Club Déméter also stresses the geopolitical dimension. In a world facing mounting climate, security and trade disruptions, control over food production is becoming a core pillar of national power. Countries able to secure domestic food supplies while exporting cereals, proteins and vegetable oils wield significant geopolitical leverage.

CUBITA members sit at the intersection of multiple dependencies. Europe relies on Ukrainian wheat. Asia imports Brazilian soybeans and Indonesian vegetable oils. Many African countries source food products from Brazil.

“If they falter, they could amplify global risks and instability. If they remain stable, politically and climatically, they could act as shock absorbers for the global system,” said Sébastien Abis, director of Club Déméter.

A grouping, not an alliance

The think tank argues that these countries could carry collective weight in agriculture. However, they do not form a formal bloc. There is no shared institution, coordinated diplomatic agenda or joint governance structure. Their coherence rests on a geoeconomic reading rather than political alignment. Despite comparable agricultural strengths, their national interests and development paths differ significantly.

One conclusion stands out, the experts say. As global food demand rises, climate volatility intensifies and geopolitical tensions disrupt trade, the influence of the CUBITA countries in agri-food markets is likely to grow. Importers and major producers alike will need to factor this emerging grouping into their strategic calculations.

Espoir Olodo