Agriculture in South Agriculture in South AmericaAmerica

Breadbasket of the World?Breadbasket of the World?

Emergence of AgricultureEmergence of Agriculture

Historical shift in global agriculture is Historical shift in global agriculture is taking placetaking place

Heart of this dominance has long Heart of this dominance has long been the United Statesbeen the United States

But South America is emerging as But South America is emerging as the world’s bread basketthe world’s bread basket

Why?Why?

Reasons for Growth in South American Reasons for Growth in South American AgricultureAgriculture

New techniques and technology are being New techniques and technology are being used to bring formerly unusable and barren used to bring formerly unusable and barren lands into productivitylands into productivity

Part of the Green Revolution- hybrid and Part of the Green Revolution- hybrid and disease resistant seeds, fertilizers, pesticides disease resistant seeds, fertilizers, pesticides

Economics is a factor: new demands from an Economics is a factor: new demands from an increasingly sophisticated high end market increasingly sophisticated high end market and vegetarian habits/organic productsand vegetarian habits/organic products

Demand includes traditional crops Demand includes traditional crops (soybeans) as well as specialized: radicchio, (soybeans) as well as specialized: radicchio, endive, asparagus, bok choy, artichokes, endive, asparagus, bok choy, artichokes, avocados and citrusavocados and citrus

Demand for meat from protein hungry Demand for meat from protein hungry Chinese middle classChinese middle class

BrazilBrazil

Chief among the Chief among the producers is the producers is the nation of Brazilnation of Brazil

Abundant landAbundant land Significant farming Significant farming

population-labor population-labor issueissue

Mato Grosso, BrazilMato Grosso, Brazil

Location of Brazil’s “cerrado”Location of Brazil’s “cerrado”

Brazil’s cerrado Brazil’s cerrado (www.agbrazil.com)(www.agbrazil.com)

Brazilian Portuguese word Brazilian Portuguese word cerradocerrado (tropical high plains) (tropical high plains) translates to "closed, inaccessible wasteland “ translates to "closed, inaccessible wasteland “

Brazil's high-plains, the cerrados, cover an estimated Brazil's high-plains, the cerrados, cover an estimated 207 million hectares, or about one-fourth of the country. 207 million hectares, or about one-fourth of the country. All but a small area lies south of the equator.All but a small area lies south of the equator.From a US perspective, the cerrados equal 26% of the From a US perspective, the cerrados equal 26% of the area of the lower 48 states--more than 510 million area of the lower 48 states--more than 510 million acres--an area larger than the US east of the Mississippi acres--an area larger than the US east of the Mississippi River, excluding Florida.River, excluding Florida.

The area that can be cropped is estimated at about 120 The area that can be cropped is estimated at about 120 million hectares.million hectares.Only about 50 million ha, less than one-fourth of the Only about 50 million ha, less than one-fourth of the cerrados, is now economically used. Of that, dryland and cerrados, is now economically used. Of that, dryland and irrigated crops cover about 20 million ha. The rest is in irrigated crops cover about 20 million ha. The rest is in pasture.pasture.The region began to open in the 1960s with the building The region began to open in the 1960s with the building of Brasilia, the new capital city of Brasilia, the new capital city

Brazil’s “cerrado”Brazil’s “cerrado” First commercial agriculture enterprises to start up in First commercial agriculture enterprises to start up in

the cerrados were extensive livestock operations the cerrados were extensive livestock operations Changed dramatically in late 1970s with the Changed dramatically in late 1970s with the

development of the "tropical" soybean and with new development of the "tropical" soybean and with new techniques for managing cerrado soils techniques for managing cerrado soils

Viable crop agriculture in the cerrados brought a mass Viable crop agriculture in the cerrados brought a mass population movement into the region. Most of the population movement into the region. Most of the migrants were farmers from southern states of Brazil migrants were farmers from southern states of Brazil

Cheap land was the attraction; for every hectare of land Cheap land was the attraction; for every hectare of land they sold elsewhere, they could buy 10 to 40 hectares they sold elsewhere, they could buy 10 to 40 hectares in the cerrados. in the cerrados.

At the outset of the migration in the early 1980s, a At the outset of the migration in the early 1980s, a hectare of Western Bahia land could be bought for the hectare of Western Bahia land could be bought for the equivalent of the price of a pack of cigarettes. Today, equivalent of the price of a pack of cigarettes. Today, virgin land sells for US$250 or less per hectare.virgin land sells for US$250 or less per hectare.