Graduate programs in Agronomy were pioneers in Brazil. The fi eld currently has the greatest number of graduate programs and curses in the wider fi eld of Agrarian Sciences, constituting 43.18% of the total. The Southeast and South regions of the country account for 68.45% of the graduate programs in Agronomy in Brazil. The difference in the number of graduate programs between the regions demonstrates the inequality in the distribution of graduate-level agronomy programs. However, such inequality was reduced between 2003 and 2007, with an increase in the number of programs located the less-favored regions. During the period, the number of graduate programs in Agronomy grew 75% in the North region, 88.46% in the Northeast and 90% in the Center-West. The importance of graduate study in Agronomy is refl ected in scientifi c production, which in 2007 represented 8.50% of the scientifi c production in Brazil in all areas of knowledge. In 1981, scientifi c production in Agronomy represented 58.14% of the total for Agrarian Sciences as a whole; in 2007, the corresponding percentage rested at 50.39%. The importance of scientifi c output in the fi eld of Agronomy is indicated by fact that Brazil ranks fi rst in the world in the production and export of products such as coffee, soy and sugar. These aspects demonstrate the importance of graduate study in order to increment scientifi c production which in turn is refl ected in improvements in the economic conditions of the county. The present study sought to analyze graduate study in Agronomy in Brazil and its relationship to scientifi c knowledge in the fi eld worldwide.Agronomy. Graduate study. Scientifi c knowledgeAgronomy. Graduate study. Scientifi c knowledge