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

Author

Listed:
  • Erasmus K.H.J. Zu Ermgassen

    (Conservation Science Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, David Attenborough Building, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3EQ, UK)

  • Melquesedek Pereira de Alcântara

    (Institute for Conservation and Sustainable Development of the Amazon, Rua Barão de Solimões 12, Manaus, AM 69058-250, Brazil)

  • Andrew Balmford

    (Conservation Science Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, David Attenborough Building, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3EQ, UK)

  • Luis Barioni

    (Embrapa Agriculture Informatics, Av. André Tosello, nº 209, Campus da Unicamp, Campinas, SP 13083-886, Brazil)

  • Francisco Beduschi Neto

    (Instituto Centro de Vida, Av. Ariosto da Riva, 3473- St E, Alta Floresta, MT 78580-000, Brazil
    Grupo de Trabalho da Pecuária Sustentável, Av. Paulista 1754 -Cj. 146, Bela Vista, SP 01310-920, Brazil)

  • Murilo M. F. Bettarello

    (Via Verde Consultoria Agropecuária em Sistemas Tropicais, Rua Mariana Amaral 138, São Sebastião do Paraíso, MG 37950-000, Brazil)

  • Genivaldo De Brito

    (The Nature Conservancy, Belém, PA 66035-115, Brazil)

  • Gabriel C. Carrero

    (Institute for Conservation and Sustainable Development of the Amazon, Rua Barão de Solimões 12, Manaus, AM 69058-250, Brazil
    Department of Geography, University of Florida, 3141Turlington Hall, Gainesville, FL 32611-7315, USA)

  • Eduardo De A.S. Florence

    (Instituto Centro de Vida, Av. Ariosto da Riva, 3473- St E, Alta Floresta, MT 78580-000, Brazil)

  • Edenise Garcia

    (The Nature Conservancy, Belém, PA 66035-115, Brazil)

  • Eduardo Trevisan Gonçalves

    (Instituto de Manejo e Certificação Florestal e Agrícola, Estrada Chico Mendes 185, Piracicaba, SP 13426-420, Brazil)

  • Casio Trajano Da Luz

    (Instituto de Manejo e Certificação Florestal e Agrícola, Estrada Chico Mendes 185, Piracicaba, SP 13426-420, Brazil)

  • Giovanni M. Mallman

    (The Nature Conservancy, Belém, PA 66035-115, Brazil)

  • Bernardo B.N. Strassburg

    (International Institute for Sustainability, Estrada Dona Castorina 124, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 22460-320, Brazil
    Rio Conservation and Sustainability Science Centre, Department of Geography and the Environment, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 22453-900, Brazil)

  • Judson F. Valentim

    (Embrapa Acre. Rodovia BR-364, km 14, Caixa Postal 321., Rio Branco, SC 69908-970, Brazil)

  • Agnieszka Latawiec

    (International Institute for Sustainability, Estrada Dona Castorina 124, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 22460-320, Brazil
    Rio Conservation and Sustainability Science Centre, Department of Geography and the Environment, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 22453-900, Brazil
    School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
    Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Informatics, Faculty of Production and Power Engineering, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Balicka 116B, 30-149 Krakow, Poland)

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 (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.

Suggested Citation

  • Erasmus K.H.J. Zu Ermgassen & Melquesedek Pereira de Alcântara & Andrew Balmford & Luis Barioni & Francisco Beduschi Neto & Murilo M. F. Bettarello & Genivaldo De Brito & Gabriel C. Carrero & Eduardo , 2018. "Results from On-The-Ground Efforts to Promote Sustainable Cattle Ranching in the Brazilian Amazon," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-26, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:4:p:1301-:d:142699
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    5. Müller-Hansen, Finn & Heitzig, Jobst & Donges, Jonathan & Cardoso, Manoel F. & Dalla-Nora, Eloi L. & Andrade, Pedro R. & Kurths, Jürgen & Thonicke, Kirsten, 2019. "Can intensification of cattle ranching reduce deforestation in the Amazon? Insights from an agent-based social-ecological model," SocArXiv x5q9j, Center for Open Science.
    6. Thaler, Gregory M. & Viana, Cecilia & Toni, Fabiano, 2019. "From frontier governance to governance frontier: The political geography of Brazil’s Amazon transition," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 59-72.
    7. Ana Beatriz Santos & Marcos Heil Costa, 2018. "Do Large Slaughterhouses Promote Sustainable Intensification of Cattle Ranching in Amazonia and the Cerrado?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-28, September.
    8. Neli Aparecida de Mello-Théry & Eduardo de Lima Caldas & Beatriz M. Funatsu & Damien Arvor & Vincent Dubreuil, 2020. "Climate Change and Public Policies in the Brazilian Amazon State of Mato Grosso: Perceptions and Challenges," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-20, June.
    9. Marin Elisabeth Skidmore, 2023. "Outsourcing the dry season: Cattle ranchers' responses to weather shocks in the Brazilian Amazon," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 105(2), pages 409-433, March.
    10. Müller-Hansen, Finn & Heitzig, Jobst & Donges, Jonathan F. & Cardoso, Manoel F. & Dalla-Nora, Eloi L. & Andrade, Pedro & Kurths, Jürgen & Thonicke, Kirsten, 2019. "Can Intensification of Cattle Ranching Reduce Deforestation in the Amazon? Insights From an Agent-based Social-Ecological Model," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 198-211.
    11. Juliana Silveira dos Santos & Fausto Miziara & Hayla da Silva Fernandes & Renato Cezar Miranda & Rosane Garcia Collevatti, 2021. "Technification in Dairy Farms May Reconcile Habitat Conservation in a Brazilian Savanna Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-15, May.
    12. Júlia Graziela da Silveira & Sílvio Nolasco de Oliveira Neto & Ana Carolina Barbosa do Canto & Fernanda Figueiredo Granja Dorilêo Leite & Fernanda Reis Cordeiro & Luís Tadeu Assad & Gabriela Cristina , 2022. "Land Use, Land Cover Change and Sustainable Intensification of Agriculture and Livestock in the Amazon and the Atlantic Forest in Brazil," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-23, February.
    13. René Poccard-Chapuis & Sophie Plassin & Reinis Osis & Daniel Pinillos & Gustavo Martinez Pimentel & Marcelo Cordeiro Thalês & François Laurent & Mario Rodrigo de Oliveira Gomes & Laura Angelica Ferrei, 2021. "Mapping Land Suitability to Guide Landscape Restoration in the Amazon," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-24, April.
    14. Cortner, O. & Garrett, R.D. & Valentim, J.F. & Ferreira, J. & Niles, M.T. & Reis, J. & Gil, J., 2019. "Perceptions of integrated crop-livestock systems for sustainable intensification in the Brazilian Amazon," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 841-853.
    15. Moffette, Fanny & Skidmore, Marin & Gibbs, Holly K., 2021. "Environmental policies that shape productivity: Evidence from cattle ranching in the Amazon," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    16. Amintas Brandão Jr. & Lisa Rausch & América Paz Durán & Ciniro Costa Jr. & Seth A. Spawn & Holly K. Gibbs, 2020. "Estimating the Potential for Conservation and Farming in the Amazon and Cerrado under Four Policy Scenarios," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-22, February.

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