Brazil spotlight on agriculture, biodiversity, and ecosystem services
NbSI research fellow, Aline Soterroni, recently participated at the launch of the Summary for Decision Makers (STD) of the new report by the Brazilian Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (BPBES) on Agriculture, Biodiversity, and Ecosystem Services.
Alongside two colleagues, Aline led the chapter on scenario modelling, which outlines potential pathways for Brazilian agriculture. The summary for decision makers, unveiled on 17 July 2024 at the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden, provides a concise synthesis of an extensive study aimed at bridging the gap between environmental conservation and rural production in Brazil, underscoring how agribusiness relies on ecosystem services.
Vital ecosystem services, including pollination, pest control, climate regulation, and soil fertility maintenance, are foundational to agricultural productivity. Authors highlight that agricultural expansion in Brazil has come at the cost of native vegetation, severely impacting the environment and the very ecosystem services upon which agribusiness depends. From 1985 to 2022, Brazil’s agricultural land increased dramatically, with agribusiness contributing significantly to the country’s greenhouse gas emissions.
The publication also issues a stark warning about the future, projecting that climate change could render vast productive areas unviable by 2060, particularly in the Amazon-Cerrado region. It calls for the adoption of more sustainable agricultural models that make better use of natural resources and focus on restoring degraded lands.
Additionally, the report underscores the indispensable role of family farming, which supplies approximately 70% of the food consumed in Brazil and provides employment for two-thirds of the rural workforce. Despite its more environmentally-friendly practices, the family farming sector faces challenges such as limited access to credit and technical support. Strengthening this sector and encouraging sustainable practices is highlighted as a key strategy for balancing agricultural output with biodiversity preservation.
The study offers several transformative solutions for agribusiness, including enforcing the Vegetation Protection Law, enhancing pasture productivity, and introducing economic mechanisms like Payments for Ecosystem Services and biodiversity credits. It also advocates for scaling up sustainable approaches such as the Crop-Livestock-Forest Integration System and restoring protected areas.
For these changes to take root, the report stresses the importance of integrated governance and coordinated actions across societal and governmental sectors. The preservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services, it concludes, is not a hindrance to economic development but a vital component for ensuring the sustainable future of agribusiness in Brazil.
Read the Press Release (Portuguese).
View Youtube recording of the event.
Download the Summary
