Sustainable bioproducts in Brazil: disputes and agreements on a common ground agenda for agriculture and nature protection

Abstract

A key question for food, biofuels, and bioproducts production is how agriculture affects the environment, and social and economic development. In Brazil, a large agricultural producer and among the biologically wealthiest of nations, this question is challenging and opinions often clash. The Brazilian parliament and several stakeholders have recently debated the revision of the Forest Act, the most important legal framework for conservation of natural vegetation on Brazilian private agricultural lands. Past decades have shown improvements in the agricultural sector with respect to productivity and efficiency, along with great reductions in deforestation and growth of environmentally certified production. However, the opposing sides in the debate have ignored this progress and instead continue to entrench their respective combative positions. A structured exchange involving nine experts associated with major producer interests (livestock, crops, planted forest, and charcoal) and environmental NGOs was moderated based on a framework that sorted viewpoints into four categories: (i) common ground – compatible interests considered to be high priority for Brazilian sustainable agricultural development; (ii) serving exclusive nature conservation interest; (iii) serving exclusive agricultural production interest; and (iv) mainly serving the purpose of sustaining dispute. We conclude that the majority of actions and expected future trends reflect achievements and ambitions to balance production and conservation, but much public opinion – and in turn decisions in the parliament and government for agriculture and conservation – is shaped by a perceived conflict between these objectives and a debate that has become, at least to some extent, an end in itself. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

Expansion of agricultural areas in Brazil from 1994 to 2013: soybeans versus corn versus cotton

“…The results for LQ for the non-selected mesoregions reinforce that the area expansion according to the selected Organizações Rurais & Agroindustriais, Lavras, v. 19, n. 3, p. 219-232, 2017 mesoregions was not concentrated in corn. SPAROVEK et al (2016) showed that efficiency improvements are crucial for small or medium producers, which is more evident for corn 5 producers than for soybeans or cotton farmers.…”

“…In a context of area expansion guided by soybeans and cotton, even if environmental impacts happen (SAUER and LEITE, 2012), some analysts (SPAROVEK et al, 2016) consider possible to find out a common base of interests between farmers and conservationist groups.…”

How is biodiversity protection influencing the potential for bioenergy feedstock production on grasslands?

“…Conversion of forests and other natural vegetation has supported agricultural growth but has also resulted in negative impacts, including loss of biodiversity (Newbold et al, ). Impacts of land use and land‐use change in Brazil are subject to public debate, as well as substantial scientific activity and legislation/policy development (Sparovek et al, ).…”

Expansão Agrícola no Brasil e a Participação da Soja: 20 anos

“…Embora haja impactos ambientais neste processo (SAUER e LEITE, 2012), particularmente no tocante à expansão da soja e aos preços e apropriação de terra por estrangeiros no Brasil, outros analistas (SPAROVEK et al, 2016) argumentam que o fenômeno da expansão de área agrícola pode contemplar uma base comum de interesses entre agricultores e conservacionistas.…”

“…Neste quesito, trabalho recente (SPAROVEK et al, 2016) mostra que ganhos de eficiência são uma questão importante para os produtores de menor porte e nível de renda. Assim, investigações adicionais ainda são necessárias, sobretudo em maiores desagregações territoriais (municí-pio, por exemplo), que é justamente uma limitação do presente trabalho.…”