Amazon destruction woes overshadow Brazil's farming advances

[Judi Lynn]

Technology makes farming in developed areas more sustainable but rainforest destruction has been soaring

Michael Stott in São Paulo 2 HOURS AGO

Brazilian agriculture is increasingly a tale of two regions: competitive high-tech farming in the developed southern and central parts of the country, and soaring deforestation in the Amazon to clear land for soya and beef farming.

Farming has grown dramatically this century in the South American nation, making it the world’s biggest exporter of soyabeans and beef, on top of traditional commodities such as coffee, cocoa, cotton, citrus and sugar. Agricultural exports from Brazil totalled $125bn last year and the sector now accounts for nearly 30 per cent of GDP.

Since the 1970s, Brazil has funded research into higher yields and better use of technology in agriculture, and backed the sector by promoting farm exports and favourable credit policies. Yet progress in making farming practices more efficient and sustainable risks being undermined by the destruction of the Amazon rainforest.

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s victory in last month’s presidential election has sparked hopes of a major shift in policy. Lula committed during the campaign to a target of zero deforestation in Brazil, though he did not give a date, and has vowed to restore funds for environmental enforcement which were slashed under President Jair Bolsonaro.

Many in the agribusiness sector argue that Brazil’s success in using technology to boost yields proves it has no need to burn down rainforest.

More:
https://www.ft.com/content/29899f4b-147d-4524-8ac4-b72073ec721a

[The_Casual_Observer]

1. At some point the oxygen level on the earth is going to be

Insufficient to maintain life. That will be the end of the whole Cha Cha.