Agricultural Growth in the Period 1999-2004, Outburst in Soybeans Area and Environmental Impacts in Brazil

Antonio Brandão, Gervásio Rezende and Roberta Marques

No 140, Discussion Papers from Instituto de Pesquisa Econômica Aplicada - IPEA

Abstract: This paper analyses the Brazilian agricultural growth since January 1999, when a new exchange rate policy was adopted by the country. The analysis focuses on the behavior of the exchange rate and international commodity prices throughout the period 1999-2004. It is also analysed the behavior of cropped area in this recent period, with the conclusion that there has been a fast increase in area planted with grains in the agricultural years 2001/2002, 2002/2003 and 2003/2004, due almost entirely to the growth of soybeans area. The paper proposes that this expansion of area planted with soybeans was based preponderantly on the conversion of pastures. It is also suggested that expansion of soybeans should not be seen as antagonistic to the environmental policy, specially in what respects the protection of the Amazon forest. Este trabalho analisa o crescimento agrícola brasileiro após a mudança da política cambial, em janeiro de 1999. Toma como base, para isso, o comportamento da taxa de câmbio e dos preços internacionais das commodities ao longo do período 1999- 2004. Discute, também, o comportamento da área cultivada nesse período recente, mostrando que ocorreu um aumento muito grande da área plantada com grãos nos anos agrícolas 2001/2002, 2002/2003 e 2003/2004, em grande parte devido à expansão da soja. O trabalho propõe que essa expansão tão rápida da área plantada com soja se deu preponderantemente com base em conversão de pastagens. Sugere, ainda, que a expansão da soja não deve ser vista como antagônica à política ambiental, especialmente no que se refere à proteção da floresta amazônica.

Pages: 32 pages
Date: 2015-01
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-env
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