Soybean agri-food systems dynamics and the diversity of farming styles on the agricultural frontier in Mato Grosso, Brazil

Abstract

Soybean production in South America has become a symbol of commodity crops produced on a large scale for the agribusiness geared to global markets. However, in practice, there are diverse styles of farming, ranging from the very large scale to the small scale, associated with different social relations of production. This diversity of farm types is often overlooked within the focus on the stereotypical large-scale farm. Any understanding of the social dynamics of relations of production and farming practices, and so insights into longer term trajectories of agrarian change, must also go beyond a simplistic dichotomous vision of large-scale versus small-scale farming.

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.): An Overview of the Potentials of the “Golden Grain” and Socio-Economic and Environmental Aspects of Its Cultivation and Marketization

“…However, recently researchers have been calling for a reconsideration of depicting soy production as the capitalist, large-scale farming narrative leaving no place for the recognition of small-scale production. While soybean's sustainability discourse focuses mostly on these large actors embedded in the transnational agri-food commodity chain, research has to reconsider different farming styles in order to recognize sustainable solutions outside of this large-scale-small-scale dichotomy [94,98]. In this framework soy can rather be connected to the technological advancement and modernization of agriculture in contrast to quinoa's heritage rooting in the traditional cultivating territories and their people.…”

Areas Requiring Restoration Efforts are a Complementary Opportunity to Support the Demand for Pollination Services in Brazil

“…Additionally, there was a strong demand and crop diversity in the Amazon, in coastal areas, and in the Northeastern region. This strong demand and crop diversity primarily reflect traditional pollinator-dependent monocultures other than soybean in Brazil (e.g., coffee, orange, and cocoa) but also more diverse systems based on fruit and vegetable crops (e.g., watermelon, pumpkin, and tomato) cultivated in intermediate and small properties . Strong crop PD and crop diversity are also associated with native crops (passion fruit and cashew nut) and Amazonian products (açai palm and babassu oil), strongly dependent on native forested areas. ,− Thus, there is wide potential for greater integration of natural and agricultural landscapes, reflecting specific crop PDs .…”

Farming out of place:

“…Flexible crops are agriculturally flexible. Both small‐ and large‐scale producers plant soy, and the crop suits both industrial and agrarian livelihood strategies (Mier y Terán Giménez Cacho ; Vennet, Schneider, and Dessein ; Wesz Junior ). The crop can be scaled up and planted in vast monocultural fields using the latest agricultural technology or incorporated into diversified rotations on small plots using manual labor.…”