How to produce food, protect the environment and generate income

for farmers

Seminar 100% agroecology will feed the world!Stockholm, April 25

André Luiz R. Gonçalves

I. Introduction

Food production, environmental protection, and

income generation for poor farmers is one of

our great dilemmas;

International Assessment of Agricultural

Knowledge, Science, and Technology for

Development (IAASTD) – “Food and nutrition

security, sustainable agriculture, and poverty

reduction cannot be achieved by a “business

as usual” approach;

I. Introduction

IAASTD – “The chains of food production and

consumption have to ensure environmental

protection. This entails the need to ensure that

the process does not result in land

abandonment, deforestation or the

displacement of poor smallholders farmers into

marginal land.

II. What is not “business as usual” – concrete examples from Brazil

Assessment of “alternative" land use systems that can promote environmental services, food production and income for farmers / Brazilian Ministry of Environment.

“Business as usual” in Pernambuco – Sugarcane production / Ethanol and Sugar

II. What is not “business as usual” – Erivan and his family

Complex agroforestry system (AFS) – coconut, fruits, and timber;

Carbon sequestration: 170 tons of CO2 equiv.ha-

1 in a period of 10 years;

Biodiversity: 2,32 Shannon-Weaner index (medium);

Observation of wild animals and birds;

Water production – ground water recovery.

Jones – Abreu Lima / Pernambuco

II. What is not “business as usual” – Jones and his family

Complex agroforestry system (AFS) – fruits and timber;

13 tons of food/ha/year + fuel wood without external inputs;

Carbon sequestration: 330 tons of CO2 equiv.ha-

1 in a period of 16 years;

Biodiversity: 2,80 Shannon-Weaner index (medium) / 75 different species of vascular plants;

Observation of wild animals and birds typically from the mangrove.

Semi-arid region

Caatinga Biome

Water constraints for food production

975 mil Km2

22 million people

Poorest Brazilian region

II. What is not “business as usual” – Vilmar and his family

Complex agroforestry system (AFS) – fruits, grains and forage for livestock;

Carbon sequestration: 67 tons of CO2 equiv.ha-1

in a period of 10 years;

Biodiversity: 2,8 Shannon-Weaner index (medium)

Observation of wild animals and birds.

“Business as usual” in the Amazon Region / “Deforestation Arch”– illegal extraction of timber, cattle ranching, and soybean production

Mudanças climáticas e o perfil das despesas das duas agriculturas

Grupos de área total (ha)

Despesas com Adubos Despesas com Corretivos do solo Despesas com Agrotóxicos

Estabele - cimentos

Valor (1 000 R$) % Estabele -

cimentosValor

(1 000 R$) % Estabele - cimentos

Valor (1 000 R$) %

Total 1.450.725,00 17.682.958,61 100,00 409.522,00 4.474.672,66 100,00 1.395.559,00 13.392.752,44 100,00

De 0,1 a menos de 50

1.209.165,00 2.678.262,73 15,15 300.213,00 339.105,07 7,58 1.137.638,00 1.696.556,49 12,67

De 50 a menos de 500

197.894,00 4.265.087,03 24,12 86.824,00 1.930.670,47 43,15 198.478,00 2.642.407,44 19,73

De 500 e mais 30.284,00 10.724.691,61 60,65 20.196,00 2.203.566,13 49,25 29.290,00 9.042.967,46 67,52

Dados censo agropecuário 2007 - 2008

II. What is not “business as usual” – Luizão and his family

Complex agroforestry system (AFS) – fruits, coffee, cocoa, timber, Brazil nut, etc;

Carbon sequestration: 350 tons of CO2 equiv.ha-

1 in a period of 10 years;

Biodiversity: 54 species of vascular plants;

Protein production: 173,10 kg/ha (AFS) and 66,5 kg/ha (pasture);

Income: 23 thousand U$/year/20 hectares of managed area.

“Business as usual” in Rio Grande do Sul – Banana production

Virtuous Circle of Production and Consumption

Thank you!