Results from On-The-Ground Efforts to Promote Sustainable Cattle Ranching in the Brazilian Amazon

Abstract

Agriculture in Brazil is booming. Brazil has the world's second largest cattle herd and is the second largest producer of soybeans, with the production of beef, soybeans, and bioethanol forecast to increase further. Questions remain, however, about how Brazil can reconcile increases in agricultural production with protection of its remaining natural vegetation. While high hopes have been placed on the potential for intensification of low-productivity cattle ranching to spare land for other agricultural uses, cattle productivity in the Amazon biome (29% of the Brazilian cattle herd) remains stubbornly low, and it is not clear how to realize theoretical productivity gains in practice. We provide results from six initiatives in the Brazilian Amazon, which are successfully improving cattle productivity in beef and dairy production on more than 500,000 hectares of pastureland, while supporting compliance with the Brazilian Forest Code. Spread across diverse geographies, and using a wide range of technologies, participating farms have improved productivity by 30-490%. High-productivity cattle ranching requires some initial investment

Review: Make ruminants green again – how can sustainable intensification and agroecology converge for a better future?

“…), a nitrogen-fixing shrub that can serve as the backbone of the system. Sustainable intensification of tropical forage-based systems is likely to increase their productivity (zu Ermgassen et al, 2018) while providing regulating ecosystem services, including a contribution to soil fertility, limitation of erosion, and climate regulation via CO 2 sequestration. Integration of forage systems within cropping systems should enhance the coupling of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycles in grasslands, cover-crops, and ley-farming systems, thus reducing the presence of reactive N in the soils and consequently, the risk of nitrate leaching and nitrous oxide emissions to the atmosphere (Lemaire et al, 2014).…”

“…This reveals the potential of labelling ruminant farming systems through strict welfare certifications so that citizens can develop their own system of consumption ethics . Regarding environmental benefits, compliance with the Brazilian Forest Code was achieved thanks to increased transparency in the Brazilian cattle supply chain (Guéneau, 2018;zu Ermgassen et al, 2018). This increased compliance did not affect the productivity of beef and dairy farms.…”

“…This increased compliance did not affect the productivity of beef and dairy farms. Success depended on the independent audit of slaughterhouses, to ensure they only purchased livestock from farms/municipalities in compliance with the Forest Code (zu Ermgassen et al, 2018). In Latin America, AE, however, does not operate through any standard or certification system (Tittonell, 2014).…”

“…There is an ongoing debate whether land for nature and that for production should be segregated (land sparing) or integrated on the same area (land sharing). The first option calls for increasing the production of animal proteins from existing farmland, without further encroachment into remaining natural ecosystems, as many agricultural lands are assumed to not reach their full production potential (Foley et al, 2011;zu Ermgassen et al, 2018). This is the basis of SI that aims to spare land for nature, as most remaining potentially cultivatable land is beneath tropical forests, where conversion to agriculture is highly undesirable.…”

Milho Safrinha Consorciado Com Braquiária Sob Plantio Direto No Sudoeste Da Amazônia Brasileira, Análise De Eficiência Econômica, Safra 2017/2018

“…O cultivo do milho em segunda safra (milho safrinha), em Rondônia vem se apresentando como relevante atividade econômica para os produtores rurais, devido a geração de renda, por se mostrar como alternativa de baixo custo e aproveitamento de recursos da safra de verão e por ser uma excelente opção para integrar lavoura com a pecuária (ZU ERMGASSEN et al, 2018). Os dados relacionados à safra 2017/2018 em Rondônia, demonstraram resultados satisfatórios aos produtores rurais, pois apesar de ocorrer uma diminuição de área plantada em relação à safra anterior, houve um incremento de 4,6% na produtividade (kg ha -1 ) estimada e consequentemente um acréscimo na produção resultando em aumento na renda (CONAB, 2018).…”