Abstract
Brazil is one of the world's largest producers and exporters of food. Increased production has served as an incentive for expanding the agricultural frontier, leading to substantial changes in land use and land cover in the country. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the spatial–temporal dynamics of Brazil's municipal cattle production, along with the main crops in the country (soybean, corn, and sugarcane). Growth and acceleration rates, as well as the movements of production in the country, were calculated, along with correlations between different production types. The results revealed a high growth rate and acceleration of soybean and maize production in the South, Midwest, and West of the Northeast regions. The South–Central region achieved high growth rates and acceleration for sugarcane production, resulting in the displacement of sugarcane from the Northeast region to the South–Central region. Meanwhile, from 2003 to 2012, cattle production exhibited a high growth rate and acceleration in the Legal Amazon area. The inverse correlation between soybean and beef production was mainly observed in Midwest, Southeast, and South municipalities. The analysis also indicated that the causes of displacement for these productions are complex. Our results are crucial for understanding regional disparities, promoting science and innovation in Brazilian agriculture, and serving as a basis for infrastructure and financing policies for these agricultural products in Brazil.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data availability
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the authors upon reasonable request.
References
Abramovay, R. (2003). Finanças de proximidade e desenvolvimento territorial no semi-árido brasileiro. In R. Abramovay (Ed.), O futuro das regiões rurais (pp. 101–123). Editora da UFRGS.
ANP (2021). Agência Nacional do Petróleo, Gás Natural e Biocombustíveis. Retrieved January 10, 2021, from http://www.anp.gov.br.
Barona, E., Ramankutty, N., Hyman, G., & Coomes, O. T. (2010). The role of pasture and soybean in deforestation of the Brazilian Amazon. Environment Research Letter. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/5/2/024002
Bertussi, G. L., & Ellery Junior, R. (2012). Infraestrutura de transporte e crescimento econômico no Brasil. Journal Transport Literature, 6, 101–132. https://doi.org/10.1590/s2238-10312012000400006
Borghi, E., Bortolon, L., Avanzi, J. C., Bortolon, E. S. O., Ummus, M. E., Gontijo Neto, M. M., & Costa, R. V. (2014). Desafios das novas fronteiras agrícolas de produção de milho e sorgo no Brasil: desafios da região do MATOPIBA. Retrieved May 20, 2020, from https://www.alice.cnptia.embrapa.br/alice/handle/doc/992832.
Boucher, D., Roquemore, S., & Fitzhugh, E. (2013). Brazil’s success in reducing deforestation. Tropical Conservation Science, 6, 426–445. https://doi.org/10.1177/194008291300600308
Bowman, M. S., Soares-Filho, B. S., Merry, F. D., Nepstad, D. C., Rodrigues, H., & Almeida, O. T. (2012). Persistence of cattle ranching in the Brazilian Amazon: A spatial analysis of the rationale for beef production. Land Use Policy, 29, 558–568. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2011.09.009
Bragança, A. (2018). The economic consequences of the agricultural expansion in Matopiba. Revista Brasileira De Economia, 72, 161–185. https://doi.org/10.5935/0034-7140.20180008
Brandão, A. S. P., Rezende, G. C., & Marques, R. W. C. (2006). Crescimento agrícola no período 1999/2004: A explosão da soja e da pecuária bovina e seu impacto sobre o meio ambiente. Economic Aplicade, 10, 249–266. https://doi.org/10.1590/s1413-80502006000200006
Buainain, A. M. (2014). Alguns condicionantes do novo padrão de acumulação da agricultura brasileira. In A. M. Buainain, E. Alves, J. M. Silveira, & Z. Navarro (Eds.), O mundo rural no Brasil do século 21: A formação de um novo padrão agrário e agrícola (pp. 211–240). Embrapa.
Byerlee, D., Stevenson, J., & Villoria, N. (2014). Does intensification slow crop land expansion or encourage deforestation? Global Food Security, 3, 92–98. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gfs.2014.04.001
CAR (2021). Cadastro Ambiental Rural. Retrieved January 01, 2021, from http://www.car.gov.br.
Castro, C. N. (2013). A agropecuária na região norte: Oportunidades e limitações ao desenvolvimento. Pesqui. Econômica Apl., 1836, 1–44.
Castro, C. N. (2015). O agronegócio e os desafios do financiamento da infraestrutura de transportes no Brasil. Pesqui. Econômica Apl., 2074, 1–44.
Castro, S. S., Abdala, K., Silva, A. A., & Borges, V. A. (2010). Expansão da cana-de-açúcar no cerrado e no estado de goiás: Elementos para uma análise espacial do processo. Bol. Goiano Geogr., 30, 171–191. https://doi.org/10.5216/bgg.v30i1.11203
Cattaneo, A. (2008). Regional comparative advantage, location of agriculture, and deforestation in Brazil. Journal of Sustainable Forestry, 27, 25–42. https://doi.org/10.1080/10549810802225200
Contini, E. (2015). Dinâmica das mudanças e transformações da agricultura brasileira. In M. R. Otero, M. M. Oliveira, B. A. Tibúrcio, & A. R. Ramirez (Eds.), Agricultura e desenvolvimento rural sustentável: Desafios da cooperação técnica internacional (pp. 315–343). IICA.
Correa, V. H. C., & Ramos, P. (2010). A precariedade do transporte rodoviário brasileiro para o escoamento da produção de soja do Centro-Oeste: Situação e perspectivas. Revista de Economia e Sociologia Rural, 48, 447–472. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0103-20032010000200009
Cremonez, P. A., Feroldi, M., Nadaleti, W. C., De Rossi, E., Feiden, A., De Camargo, M. P., Cremonez, F. E., & Klajn, F. F. (2015). Biodiesel production in Brazil: Current scenario and perspectives. Renewable Sustainable Energy Reviews, 42, 415–428. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2014.10.004
Delgado, G. C. (2001). Expansão e modernização do setor agropecuário no pós-guerra: Um estudo da reflexão agrária. Estud. Avançados., 15, 157–172. https://doi.org/10.1590/s0103-40142001000300013
FAO (2021b). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Faostat: Rankings - Food and agricultural commodities production/ Countries by commodities. Retrieved January 01, 2021, from Available online: http://faostat3.fao.org/browse/rankings/countries_by_commodity/E.
FAO (2021a). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Faostat by country/region. Retrieved January 01, 2021, from Available online: http://faostat3.fao.org/browse/area/21/E.
Ferreira Filho, J. B. S., Ribera, L., & Horridge, M. (2015). Deforestation control and agricultural supply in Brazil. American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 97, 589–601. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajae/aav004
Gollnow, F., & Lakes, T. (2014). Policy change, land use, and agriculture: The case of soy production and cattle ranching in Brazil, 2001–2012. Applied Geography, 55, 203–211. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeog.2014.09.003
GTS Grupo de Trabalho da Soja. Moratória da Soja, 2017. Safra 2016/2017. Retrieved January 20, 2019, from http://www.abiove.org.br/site/_FILES/Portugues/10012018-094820-relatorio_de_monitoramento_2017.pdf.
Harvey, M., & Pilgrim, S. (2011). The new competition for land: Food, energy, and climate change. Food Policy, 36, S40–S51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2010.11.009
IBGE (2021). Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e estatística. Sistema IBGE de Recuperação Automática – SIDRA. Retrieved May 23, 2021, from http://www.sidra.ibge.gov.br/bda/agric/default.asp? t=4&z= t&o=11&u1 =1&u2=1&u3=1&u4=1&u5=1&u6=1.
Jusys, T. A. (2017). confirmation of the indirect impact of sugarcane on deforestation in the Amazon. Journal of Land Use Science, 12, 125–137. https://doi.org/10.1080/1747423X.2017.1291766
Kohlhepp, G. (2010). Análise da situação da produção de etanol e biodiesel no Brasil. Estud. Avançados., 24, 223–253. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0103-40142010000100017
Lourenzani, W. L., & Caldas, M. M. (2014). Mudanças no uso da terra decorrentes da expansão da cultura da cana-de-açúcar na região oeste do estado de São Paulo. Ciencia Rural, 44, 1980–1987. https://doi.org/10.1590/0103-8478cr20140186
Martha, G. B., Alves, E., & Contini, E. (2012). Land-saving approaches and beef production growth in Brazil. Agricultural Systems, 110, 173–177. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2012.03.001
McManus, C., Barcellos, J. O. J., Formenton, B. K., Hermuche, P. M., Carvalho, O. A., Guimarães, R., Gianezini, M., Dias, E. A., Lampert, V. N., Zago, D., & Braccini Neto, J. (2016). Dynamics of cattle production in Brazil. PLoS ONE, 11, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0147138
Melo, F. H., & Pelin, E. (1984). As soluções energéticas e a economia brasileira. Hucitec, São Paulo.
Melo, J. C. (1999). O fenômeno el niño e as secas no Nordeste do Brasil. R Raízes. https://doi.org/10.37370/raizes.1999.v.162
Oliveira, A. L. R. (2014). A logística do agronegócio: para além do apagão logístico. O mundo rural no Brasil do século 21: a formação de um novo padrão agrário e agrícola, 21, 337–370.
Pereira, P., Martha, G. B., Santana, C. A., & Alves, E. (2012). The development of Brazilian agriculture: Future technological challenges and opportunities. Agricultural Food Security, 1, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1186/2048-7010-1-4
Prates, R. C., & Bacha, C. J. C. (2011). Os processos de desenvolvimento e desmatamento da Amazônia. Economy and Society, 20, 601–636. https://doi.org/10.1590/s0104-06182011000300006
Rada, N. (2013). Assessing Brazil’s Cerrado agricultural miracle. Food Policy, 38, 146–155. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2012.11.002
Richards, P. D., Walker, R. T., & Arima, E. Y. (2014). Spatially complex land change: The indirect effect of Brazil’s agricultural sector on land use in Amazonia. Global Environmental Change, 29, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2014.06.011
Rudorff, B. F. T., Aguiar, D. A., Silva, W. F., Sugawara, L. M., Adami, M., & Moreira, M. A. (2010). Studies on the rapid expansion of sugarcane for ethanol production in São Paulo state (Brazil) using Landsat data. Remote Sens., 2, 1057–1076. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs2041057
Sá, M. E. P., Sá, C. V. G. C., Nicolino, R. R., Haddad, J. P. A., McManus, C., Seixas, L., & Melo, C. B. (2018). Data on network of live cattle exports from Brazil. Data Br., 19, 1963–1969. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2018.06.059
Shikida, P. F. A. (2015). Evolução e fases da agroindústria canavieira no Brasil. Revista de Política Agrícola, 23, 43–57. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781107415324.004
Sicsú, A. B. (2000). Fronteiras agrícolas no Brasil a lógica de sua ocupação recente. Nova Economia, 10, 109–138.
Soares-Filho, B. S., Nepstad, D. C., Curran, L. M., Cerqueira, G. C., Garcia, R. A., Ramos, C. A., Voll, E., McDonald, A., Lefebvre, P., & Schlesinger, P. (2006). Modelling conservation in the Amazon basin. Nature, 440, 520–523. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature04389
Strassburg, B. B. N., Latawiec, A. E., Barioni, L. G., Nobre, C. A., Silva, V. P., Valentim, J. F., Vianna, M., & Assad, E. D. (2014). When enough should be enough: Improving the use of current agricultural lands could meet production demands and spare natural habitats in Brazil. Global Environmental Change, 28, 84–97. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2014.06.001
SUDENE (2000). Agregados Econômicos Regionais: Nordeste do Brasil, 1965–1998. SUDENE, Recife.
Szmecsányi, T., & Moreira, E. P. (1991). O desenvolvimento da agroindústria canavieira do Brasil desde a segunda guerra mundial. Estud. Avançados., 11, 57–79.
USDA (2022). United States Department of Agriculture. Foreign Agricultural Service. Retrieved January 02, 2022, from http//:apps.fas.usda.gov/psdonline.
van Vliet, N., Mertz, O., Heinimann, A., Langanke, T., Pascual, U., Schmook, B., Adams, C., Schmidt-Vogt, D., Messerli, P., Leisz, S., Castella, J. C., Jørgensen, L., Birch-Thomsen, T., Hett, C., Bech-Bruun, T., Ickowitz, A., Vu, K. C., Yasuyuki, K., Fox, J., … Ziegler, A. D. (2012). Trends, drivers and impacts of changes in swidden cultivation in tropical forest-agriculture frontiers: A global assessment. Global Environmental Change, 22, 418–429. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2011.10.009
Vieira Filho, J. E. R. (2014). Transformação histórica e padrões tecnológicos da agricultura brasileira. In A. M. Buainain, E. Alves, J. M. Silveira, & Z. Navarro (Eds.), O mundo rural no Brasil do século 21: A formação de um novo padrão agrário e agrícola (pp. 395–421). Embrapa.
Vieira Junior, P. A., Figueiredo, E. V. C., & Reis, J. C. (2014). Alcance e limites da agricultura para o desenvolvimento regional: O caso do Mato Grosso. In A. M. Buainain, E. Alves, J. M. Silveira, & Z. Navarro (Eds.), O mundo rural no Brasil do século 21: A formação de um novo padrão agrário e agrícola (pp. 1125–1156). Embrapa.
Vilela, L., Martha J. R. G. B., & Marchão, R. L. (2012). Integração Lavoura-Pecuária-Floresta: alternativa para intensificação do uso. Rev. UFG., 92–99.
Villanova, J. A. (1995). Panorama Estrutural Do Segmento Sucroalcooleiro. Agroanalysis, 15, 8–12.
Vosti, S. A., Carpentier, C. L., Witcover, J., & Valentim, J. F. (2001). Intensified small-scale livestock Brazilian Amazon. In A. Angelsen & D. Kaimowitz (Eds.), Agricultural technologies and tropical deforestation (pp. 113–133). Center for International Forestry Research.
Acknowledgements
Special thanks to the Spatial Information System Laboratory research group of the University of Brasilia for technical support. The authors acknowledge the contribution of anonymous reviewers.
Funding
To CAPES for scholarships and Portal de Periodicals.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
RLAM, RFG, OLFC, OACJr., and CM contributed to conceptualization; PMH and CM were involved formal analysis; RFG, PMH, RATG, VOLFC, OACJr., and CM contributed to the design of methodology; RLAM, RFG, VP, CBT, and CM contributed to writing—review and editing.
Corresponding authors
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Maranhão, R.L.A., Guimarães, R.F., Hermuche, P.M. et al. Growth and acceleration analysis of the soybean, sugar cane, maize and cattle production in Brazil. Environ Dev Sustain (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-023-04377-5
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-023-04377-5