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pages of newspapers. But that’s changed as feed longer being used to graze cattle – that’s espe-
and food companies around the world are increas- cially true in Mato Grosso – much of the
ingly concerned about the widening awareness of expansion will also be realized by the “clear-
climate change as consumers increasingly demand ing of new land for production” in states like
their food is sustainably produced. Maranhao, Tocantins, Piaui, and Bahia, accord-
ing to a recent report by the USDA’s Foreign
Brazilian officials argue that much of the coun- Agricultural Service.
try’s increase in crop acreage these days comes
from the conversion of cattle grazing land into Spying by satellite to stop
soybean fields.
deforestation
“If we only use the pasture that’s underdevel-
oped and under-used, that would be enough for The Bolsonaro administration is scrambling to
us to expand our production harmlessly,” one convince the world that consuming Brazilian
official told Agri-Pulse. crops isn’t damaging the planet. As part of that
effort, Brazilian Agriculture Minister Teresa
But breaking up grasslands for crops releases Cristina accompanied representatives from
carbon into the atmosphere and deforested land South Africa, Spain, Peru, Colombia, Canada,
is being turned into ag production, even though Sweden, Germany, the European Union, United
the process can take years and the government is Kingdom, France and Portugal to three cities in
trying to verify land deeds. the state of Amazonas to witness how respon-
“It is key to continue focusing on landholding sible farming can be conducted alongside the
regularization,” the official said. “If it is clear rainforest and without damaging the ecosystem.
who owns the land, authorities can enforce the “The initiative aims to show the national and
law more effectively.” international community that the Brazilian
Amazon remains preserved and that its environ-
While most of the acreage expansion is indeed mental and human complexity does not allow a
expected to occur on pasture land that is no
general understanding of the
region,” she said. “Knowing is
the basis for understanding and
suggesting actions to contribute
to the sustainable development
of the region - preserving,
protecting and developing our
immense tropical forest.”

But it’s an uphill battle as the
government tries to contend
with a legal morass of property
rights in a web of states that
are home to parts of the vast
Amazon forest.

Millions of acres of rain forest
burn or are cut down every
year. That’s when land-owners
move in to try to make a profit.

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