The document discusses conservation agriculture in Brazil from the past to the present. It notes that Brazilian agriculture has evolved from traditional practices to become more high-tech and science-based, driven by population growth, urbanization, and changing diets globally. Conservation agriculture techniques developed in Brazil include no-till cropping systems, integrated crop-livestock-forest systems, and biological nitrogen fixation. These approaches have allowed agricultural intensification and expansion while reducing environmental impacts. Emerging areas of focus include agroecological zoning, forest-friendly agriculture, and biochar research networks.

1. Conservation Agriculture in Brazil
Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
Pedro Arraes
President
Presidencia@embrapa.br

2. Outline
Brazilian AG data - high tech and smallholders
Drivers of glogal AG demand
Brazilian agriculture evolution
Challenges / Changes in Conservation Agriculture
Green Agriculture
NAMAs Brazil
Final Messages

3. Brazilian AG data - high tech
and smallholders

4. Agriculture and Food Security: Current land use in Brazil
Total area : . . . . . . . . . . . .851 M ha
Land suitable
for agriculture (65%): . . ..555 M ha
Land in use (39%): . . . . . .330 M ha
Area of rural properties
INCRA 2010 (67%): . . . . . 572 M ha
Conservation Units +
Limit states
Indigenous Lands (26%): .220 M ha
Amazon biome
Pantanal biome
Alto Paraguai river basin
Areas planted with pa
Legend
sture
Areas Limit states
used for crops/livestock
Areas Amazon biome
used for agriculture
Pantanal biome
Alto Paraguai river basin
Areas planted with pasture
Areas used for crops/livestock
Areas used for agriculture

5. Brazil – The importance of agribusiness
GDP Labor Export
(2010) (2007) (2010)
Demais setores
Demais setores
Demais setores
37% 37,9%
22,3% US$ 76,4 bi
US$ 520 bi
Source: CEPEA/USP, CNA, MAPA e MDIC. Elaboration: Fiesp-Deagro

6. ZZ
Brazilian leadership in World Ranking - 2010
Orange
juice
Suco Laranja Sugar
Açúcar Chicken
C. Frango Coffee
Café Beef
C. Bovina Soybean
Comp. Soja Corn
Milho C. Pork
Suína
1th 1th 1th 1th 1th 2th 3th 4th
Export.
Export
84% 47% 39% 29% 23% 27% 12% 10%
Produção
1th 1th 3th 1th 2th 2th 4th 4th
Production
56% 24% 15% 35% 16% 22% 7% 3%
» Ethanol: 2nd largest producer and world's leading exporter
Source: USDA (fev/2011) Note: 2010 (meat) and harvest 2009/10 (other products) Elaboration: Fiesp-Deagro

7. Brazilian Agriculture: Projections

8. Small Farm Agriculture
Contribution to Brazil in agriculture (%)
cassava 87 beans 70
cattle 30 corn 46
milk 58 poultry 50
rice 34 wheat 21
swine 59

9. Brazilian Agriculture: Exports of Selected Products
Data from Conab, G.B.Martha, Jr. (work-in-progress).

10. Meat production (1,000 tons)
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
0
10,000
12,000
14,000
Source: after Conab.
1980/81
1,451
1981/82
1,099
2,112
1982/83
1983/84
+
1984/85
334%
1985/86
1986/87
1987/88
Beef (1,000 tons carc.equiv.)
1988/89
1989/90
1990/91
1991/92
Brazil: Meat Production
1992/93
1993/94
+ 1080%
1994/95
1995/96
Poultry (1,000 tons)
1996/97
1997/98
1998/99
1999/00
2000/01
2001/02
+
219%
2002/03
2003/04
2004/05
2005/06
Pork (1,000 tons carc.equiv.)
2006/07
2007/08
2008/09
12,928
2009/10
9,184
2010/11
3,384

11. Agricultural Land-Area Use
Data from FAO, except for Brazil (IBGE), elaboration G.B.Martha.

12. Drivers of glogal AG demand

13. Drivers of global demand
Population Growth
(billion) 9,15
8,01 GDP (Annual growth %)
6,91
6,12
World
Mundo Série1 PD
DC Série2 PED Série3
UC
4,06
6,6 6,4 6,6
1975 2000 2010 2025 2050
Urbanization (billion)
4,3 4,5
7,0
6,0 Urban 3,7
5,0
2,6
4,0 2,2
1,9
3,0 Rural
2,0
1,0
0,0
1950
1955
1960
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
2015
2020
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Average00-10
Média 00-10 2011 2012
Source: UN (dez/2010) e IMF (jun/2011). Elaboration: Fiesp-Deagro

14. Drivers of global demand
New patterns of feeding ZZ
World - Per capita consumption of food
200
(kg / pessoa / ano)
Kg/consumer/year
1989/91 1999/01 2030
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
Grain
Cereais Sugar
Açúcar Vegetable oils
Óleo vegetal Meat
Carnes Dairy
Lácteos
- 4% + 12% + 55% + 42% + 20%
Replacement of grains and starches for meat, dairy, sweets, processed foods
Source: ICONE e FAO (2006). Note: were not included cereals used for animal feed. Elaboration: Fiesp-Deagro

15. ZZ
The size of the global challenge...
Production Current 2050
(million ton.) Brasil World World
Equals ... X current production
9,1 65,1 + 61% (04 x)
Carnes
Meat
3,0 105,1 + 60% (20 x)
12,2 92,6 + 108% (08 x)
8,5 456,8 + 24% (13 x)
Grains
Grãos
52,6 1.112 + 52% (11 x)
61,9 407,9 + 96% (06 x)
36,7 161,5 + 83% (08 x)
The demand of additional area will be of 81.7 million ha. The Brazilian agricultural sector is
able to add about 60 million hectares through the intensification of beef production.
Source: ICONE e FAO (fev/2011) Elaboration Fiesp-Deagro

16. Brazilian agriculture
evolution

17. Brazilian Agriculture: before 1970‘s
Rural poverty
Food supply crisis
Low Ag production and low yields Jeca Tatú
Production concentrated in South/Southeast
Lack of specific knowledge on Tropical Agriculture
Institutional void (ag research, education, markets, media and
governmental agencies, etc.)
The task:
To move from traditional agriculture to
agriculture based on science & technology

18. Tropical Agriculture Achievements
• Fibers and wood (cotton, Eucalyptus)
• Tropical (African) grasses (Brachiaria, etc.)
• Sugarcane and ethanol
• No-tillage practices
• Cerrado Agriculture
• Biological control
• N fixation
• Poultry No-till Cropping System
• Zebu cattle
• Soybean (photoperiodism)
• Tropical plants and animals:
• Tropical and temperate horticulture
20/09/10

19. Conservation Agriculture in Brazil
Intensification of land use with integrated crop-livestock-forest systems
Technologies Adapted to Small Scale Farming Systems
Source: MAPA, 2010 – Photo by APDC

20. Evolution of Agricultural Systems in Brazil
Evolution of grains and oilseeds production (million metric tons), yields (Kg/ha)
and area (million hectares) in Brazil from 1975 to 2010.
Production (million tons) Area (million ha) Yield (kg/ha)
Variation, 1976/77 to 2010/11 + 228% + 31% + 151%
160,00 4.000
154,20
140,00 3.500
Production (million tons) and
120,00 3.000
3.156
Yield (kg/ha)
area (million ha)
100,00 2.500
80,00 2.000
60,00 1.500
40,00 1.000
48,86
20,00 500
0,00 0
1976/77
1978/79
1980/81
1982/83
1987/88
1989/90
1991/92
1993/94
2000/01
2002/03
2004/05
2006/07
1977/78
1979/80
1981/82
1983/84
1984/85
1985/86
1986/87
1988/89
1990/91
1992/93
1994/95
1995/96
1996/97
1997/98
1998/99
1999/00
2001/02
2003/04
2005/06
2007/08
2008/09
2009/10
2009/11

21. Challenges / Changes
in Conservation Agriculture

22. Conservation – 30 years in focus
The conservationist
August 1980
No-Till
cropping
system
The earth is
our mother
The role of
earthworms
in soil formation How to
produce
Erosion:
biogas
The great problem

23. Technologies For Environmental Protection
 Agro-Ecological Zoning
 Agro-Climatic Risk Zoning
 Biological Pest Control
 High yield cultivars (land-sparing effect)
 No-Till Cropping System
 Biological Nitrogen Fixation
 Bioenergy
 Reclamation Technology for Degraded Areas
(mining, engineering and siderurgy)
 Precision agriculture

24. Agricultural Incorporation of Selected Anthropic Areas
Brazil as Reference in Sustainable Agriculture
Technical Capacity + New Technologies
Partnerships Degraded Soils
Modified Areas Exhausted Pastures
20/09/10

25. Agroecological zoning for sustainable production
Oil Palm Sustainable Production Program
BRS Manicoré
Oil Palm Sustainable Production Program
Restrict expansion to areas that have been deforested
Prohibit the felling of native vegetation
Direct the expansion of production to the recovery of degraded areas
Small farmers linked to the industrial plants

26. Conservation Agriculture in Brazil
Cultivated area under no-tillage systems around the world (1000 ha)
Source: Brazilian Federation of No-Till cropping system – FEBRAPDP, 2006

27. Crop Livestock Forest Integration - CLFI
“Agricultural intensification and expansion
with mitigation of environmental impact”
Source: MAPA, 2010 – Photos by Votorantin Metais

28. Biological Nitrogen Fixation
Brazil has become the world leader in replacing N fertilizers
by biological N2 fixation (BNF).
With Bradyrhizobium
Anual economy:
~ US$ 5 billion
Without Bradyrhizobium
Source: Contini and Martha Jr., 2010

29. Agroecological Zoning Plan
for Sugarcane Expansion
Brazil is using Zoning Technology to Manage Sugarcane Expansion
Sugarcane for ethanol
production occupies 1.5% of
Brazil s arable land
87% of
sugarcane
production
http://www.cnps.embrapa.br/zoneamento_cana_de_acucar/ZonCana.pdf Source: UNICA.

30. Embrapa Embrapa Embrapa Embrapa Embrapa Embrapa
Rice & Soils: Agriforestry: Agroenergy: Pantanal: Agriforestry :
Beans: Terra Preta integration alternative pyrolysis
field trials and integrated of energy biomass and forests
and crop theoretical systems and biochar and field systems
wastes model trials production trials trials
Biochar Research Network

31. 2600
b. Soybean Yield 2600
a
3200
3200 a 2550
2550 3rd year after application
1st year after application
Yield (kg ha-1)
3150
3150 2500
2500
ab
Produtividade (kg ha )
-1
3100
3100 ab 2450
2450
Produtividade (kg ha )
-1
3050
3050 bc 2400
2400
bc
f=y0+a*carvão+b*carvão^2
3000
3000
bc 2350
2350
bc r2: 0,96 p (0,0155)
2950
2950
c f=y0+a*charcoal+b*charcoal
f=y0+a*carvão+b*carvão^2
r2: 0,96 p(0,0176) 2
2300
c f=y0+a*charcoal+b*charcoal2
2900
2300
r2 = 0.96 p(0.0155)
2900
r2 = 0.96 p(0.0176)
2250
2250
2850
2850 0
0 5 5 10 10 15 15
0
0 5
5
10
10
15
15
Charcoal (Mg-1ha-1)
-1 Carvão (Mg ha )
Carvão (Mg ha )
3200
3200
4th year after application a Haplic Ferralsol, texture sandy clay
Mato Grosso State, Savanna (Cerrado)
Yield (kg ha-1)
3000
3000
b
Produtividade (kg ha )
-1
2800
2800
b
2600
2600
f=y0+a*carvão+b*carvão^2
c c f=y0+a*charcoal+b*charcoal2
2
r : 0,96 p (0,016)
2400
2400
r2 = 0.96 p(0.0160)
2200
2200
0 5 10 15
0 5 10
15
-1
Charcoal (Mg ha-1)
Carvão (Mg ha )

32. NAMAs Brazil

33. Brazil’s Policy to Develope
a Low Carbon Emission Agriculture
NAMAs (Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions):
reduce GHG emissions = 36,1-38,9% by 2020
 Reduce deforestation in the Amazon region (80%)
and in the Cerrado (40%).
Voluntary
 Disseminate sustainable practices in Agriculture.
Commitments  Increase energy efficiency.
COP 15
 Renovation of Degraded Pastures
Brazilian  Crop-Livestock-Forest Integration
Brazilian
Low Carbon  No-Till
Climate Change  Nitrogen Fixation
Policy Emission Agriculture
Program  Planted Forest
 Treatment of Swine Residues
Technological
Package
Embrapa

34. Fonte: http://photos.mongabay.com/08/1212target_deforestation_brazil.jpg

35. Towards a Greener Agriculture

36. Agriculture - the "industry" of the future
Alimento
Food
Energy Fibers
Biomass Chemicals
Materiais
Materials

37. Agriculture as a Provider of Environmental Services
Protection and windbreaks
Maintenance of
Protection from Predators
Soil Fertility
Carbon and Parasitoids
Aesthetics and Sequestration
Landscaping cultural value
Clean water production
Climate regulation Protection of
Pollinators
Biological Fixation
Fertilizer Reduction Biological of Nutrients
Control
Ecological
Reduction of food supply and
stability
Movement of maintenance of
Pollutants Reduction of erosion wildlife

38. Agroecological Zoning and Climate Change
Climate Change and the new
geography of agricultural
production in Brazil
Source: http://www.climaeagricultura.org.br/index.html

39. Green Agriculture
in the Cerrado:
an example

40. Land use in the Cerrado
RR AP
AM MA
PA CE RN
PI PB
PE
AC RO AL
MT TO SE
BA
GO
DF
42% of Brazilian agricultural GDP MS
MG
ES
SP
RJ
PR
Total area: 204 M ha SC
RS
Crop land: 21 M ha
Pasture: 54 M ha
Perennial crops: 4 M ha

41. Average yield (last 10 years) in Brazil and
Cerrado biome
Cerrado biome
Brazil
Ordinary farm* High-tech farm Exp.station
Products Average (kg ha-¹ year-¹ )
Corn 3,507 4,546 12,000 16,000
Soybean 2,613 2,846 3,900 5,000
Beans 778 1,268 2,000 4,000
Eucalyptus¹ 30 40 80 120
Beef Cattle² 60 70 90 120
1 m³ ha-¹ year-¹;
2 live-weight gain; ha-¹ year-¹ (complete system)
* Yields from Mid-western States (Mato Grosso, South Mato Grosso and Goiás).
Source: Conab (2010)

42. Possibilities of a Green Agriculture
in the African Cerrado?

43. Technical Cooperation
Case Structuring Project /ABC
PRO SAVANNAH PROJECT - MOZAMBIQUE
Why NACALA Corridor?
Brazil
13º S
Lichinga
Nacala Corridor
Nampula
17º S
Similar biomes
Similar challenges
Business opportunities
Joint learning opportunities
A common vision for the future

44. Final Messages

45. Key Agricultural Challenges
Today and Tomorrow
• Public Image of Agriculture
• Maintaining Agribusiness Competitivity
• Sustainable Increase in Agricultural
Production
• Strengthening Smallholder Agriculture
• Sustainable Use of Forests and Altered Areas
• North-South-South Cooperation and Dialogue
• Climate-Smart Agriculture
• Subsidies and Doha Round
• Greener Agriculture a Must