Results from on-the-ground efforts to promote sustainable cattle ranching in the brazilian Amazon.

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 (R$1300-6900/ha or US$410-2180/ha), with average pay-back times of 2.5-8.5 years. We conclude by reflecting on the challenges that must be overcome to scale up these young initiatives, avoid rebound increases in deforestation, and mainstream sustainable cattle ranching in the Amazon.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	ERMGASSEN, E. K. H. J. zu, ALCÂNTARA, M. P. de, BALMFORD, A., BARIONI, L. G., BEDUSCHI NETO, F., BETTARELLO, M. M. F., BRITO, G. de, CARRERO, G. C., FLORENCE, E. da A. S., GARCIA, E., GONÇALVES, E. T., LUZ, C. T. da, MALLMAN, G. M., STRASSBURG, B. B. N., VALENTIM, J. F., LATAWIEC, A.
Other Authors:	Erasmus K. H. J. zu Ermgassen, University of Cambridge; Melquesedek Pereira de Alcântara, Institute for Conservation and Sustainable Development of the Amazon; Andrew Balmford, University of Cambridge; LUIS GUSTAVO BARIONI, CNPTIA; Francisco Beduschi Neto, Instituto Centro de Vida / Grupo de Trabalho da Pecuária Sustentável; Murilo M. F. Bettarello, Via Verde Consultoria Agropecuária em Sistemas Tropicais; Genivaldo de Brito, The Nature Conservancy; Gabriel C. Carrero, Institute for Conservation and Sustainable Development of the Amazon / University of Florida; Eduardo de A. S. Florence, Instituto Centro de Vida; Edenise Garcia, The Nature Conservancy; Eduardo Trevisan Gonçalves, Instituto de Manejo e Certificação Florestal e Agrícola; Casio Trajano da Luz, Instituto de Manejo e Certificação Florestal e Agrícola; Giovanni M. Mallman, The Nature Conservancy; Bernardo B. N. Strassburg, International Institute for Sustainability / Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro; JUDSON FERREIRA VALENTIM, CPAF-Acre; Agnieszka Latawiec, International Institute for Sustainability / Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro / University of East Anglia / University of Agriculture in Krakow.
Format:	Artigo de periódico biblioteca
Language:	pt_BR por
Published:	2018-04-23
Subjects:	Land sparing, Agricultura sustentable, Livestock productivity, Productividad pecuaria, Agricultura sustentável, Pecuária, Bovinocultura, Produtividade, Sustainable agriculture, Amazonia.,
Online Access:	http://www.alice.cnptia.embrapa.br/alice/handle/doc/1090799
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