Agricultural intensification in Brazil and its effects on land‐use patterns: an analysis of the 1975–2006 period

Abstract

Does agricultural intensification reduce the area used for agricultural production in Brazil? Census and other data for time periods 1975-1996 and 1996-2006 were processed and analyzed using Geographic Information System and statistical tools to investigate whether and if so, how, changes in yield and stocking rate coincide with changes in cropland and pasture area. Complementary medium-resolution data on total farmland area changes were used in a spatially explicit assessment of the land-use transitions that occurred in Brazil during 1960-2006. The analyses show that in agriculturally consolidated areas (mainly southern and southeastern Brazil), land-use intensification (both on cropland and pastures) coincided with either contraction of both cropland and pasture areas, or cropland expansion at the expense of pastures, both cases resulting in farmland stability or contraction. In contrast, in agricultural frontier areas (i.e., the deforestation zones in central and northern Brazil), land-use intensification coincided with expansion of agricultural lands. These observations provide support for the thesis that (i) technological improvements create incentives for expansion in agricultural frontier areas; and (ii) farmers are likely to reduce their managed acreage only if land becomes a scarce resource. The spatially explicit examination of land-use transitions since 1960 reveals an expansion and gradual movement of the agricultural frontier toward the interior (center-western Cerrado) of Brazil. It also indicates a possible initiation of a reversed trend in line with the forest transition theory, i.e., agricultural contraction and recurring forests in marginally suitable areas in southeastern Brazil, mainly within the Atlantic Forest biome. The significant reduction in deforestation that has taken place in recent years, despite rising food commodity prices, indicates that policies put in place to curb conversion of native vegetation to agriculture land might be effective. This can improve the prospects for protecting native vegetation by investing in agricultural intensification.

Intensification of cattle ranching production systems: socioeconomic and environmental synergies and risks in Brazil

“…Land-sparing effects varied from 8 to 73 million hectares in the 1996 to 2006 period, for South and North Brazil, respectively (Martha et al, 2012). Barretto et al (2013) have demonstrated that pasture intensification historically correlates with a reduction in pasture area. In agriculturally consolidated areas of southern and southeastern Brazil, landuse intensification (of both cropland and pastures) coincided with either reduction of both cropland and pasture areas, or cropland expansion at the expense of pastures.…”

“…Over the last years, intensification has been brought into international scientific and political debate as a response to the steadily increasing demand for agricultural products (Barretto et al, 2013). Across the tropics, agricultural intensification is often spurred on by governmental policies (Van Vliet et al, 2012) and has also become central to policy formulation on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+), a climate mitigation strategy included in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.…”

“…Pasturelands have become a focal point of both development and conservation experts worldwide, due to their extent and to their potential with respect to the forecasted increase in meat consumption in the coming decades (Tilman et al, 2002;Bowman et al, 2012;Barretto et al, 2013;Strassburg et al, 2014a). Beef cattle production systems are developed in all the 27 Brazilian states and are highly diversified as a result of historic, social, economic and environmental factors.…”

“…Agricultural intensification is also often associated with in-migration, road construction, and increased economic activity that in turn drives deforestation (DeFries and Rosenzweig, 2010). In the past, land-use intensification coincided with expansion of agricultural lands in agricultural frontier areas in Brazil, such as in the Amazon region (Barretto et al, 2013). Although vast areas in the Amazon may be only marginally profitable if ranched extensively, they remain profitable when considering land speculation (Bowman et al, 2012).…”

“…Kaimowitz and Angelsen (2008) highlighted that if intensification proves profitable, it would increase the land demand for cattle production in Brazil. Barretto et al (2013) concluded that technological improvements create incentives for expansion in agricultural frontier areas, and that farmers are likely to reduce farm area only if land becomes scarce or if environmental governance effectively penalizes illegal deforestation. Policies targeting agricultural intensification, such as the promotion of low-cost credit programs and use of more advanced technologies, therefore have to combine with policies and institutions aiming at curbing extensive ranching and deforestation (Strassburg et al, 2012b).…”