New Forms of Land Grabbing Due to the Bioeconomy: The Case of Brazil

Eva Cudlínová, Valny Giacomelli Sobrinho, Miloslav Lapka and Luca Salvati
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Eva Cudlínová: Department of Regional Management, Faculty of Economics, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, České Budějovice, Studentská 13 CZ-37005, Czech Republic
Valny Giacomelli Sobrinho: Department of Economics and International Relations, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul 97105-900, Brazil
Miloslav Lapka: Department of Regional Management, Faculty of Economics, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, České Budějovice, Studentská 13 CZ-37005, Czech Republic
Luca Salvati: Department of Economics and Law, University of Macerata, I-62100 Via Armaroli 43, Italy

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 8, 1-15

Abstract: The present study discusses new forms of land grabbing related to biofuel production in the light of bioeconomic development. With a specific focus on Brazil, this article debates whether biofuel production is associated with (i) an expansion of agricultural land use—regarded as a process of unsustainable crop intensification or (ii) an increase in crop yield, driven by technical innovation with stable land use—intended as a form of sustainable intensification. We conclude that, in the case of Brazil, the current bioeconomy cannot be assumed to be environmentally sustainable. Starting from Brazil’s experience, the (apparent and latent) relationship between bioeconomy and land grabbing requires a refined investigation in both wealthier and emerging economies, with the aim of proposing effective strategies to achieve truly sustainable development in the primary sector.

Keywords: land grabbing; bioeconomy; sustainable intensification; biofuels; sugar cane; ethanol (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:8:p:3395-:d:348626

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