Sustainable Agriculture in Brazil – What is it? Why is it Important And The Challenges

Sustainable agriculture in Brazil is the result of years of change. The aim is to find a balance between the supply of agricultural products and the well-being of nature. In addition to understanding the importance of providing a healthy work environment for field workers.

To top it off, some studies claim that sustainable agriculture and zero hunger are linked. This type of agriculture deals with waste that is even linked to the way in which natural resources are used. Therefore, through sustainable agriculture, it is expected to find solutions to deal with natural resource scarcity.

The benefits offered by sustainable agriculture are also linked to the quality of the food that goes on people’s plates.

Sustainable agriculture practices seek solutions that minimize the use of pesticides and pesticides that are so toxic to humans. Also, harmful to the environment. Agriculture understands the importance of valuing the whole: from the product being handled to the people who will consume it.

In this post:

• What is Sustainable Agriculture?
  • How does sustainable agriculture work?
• Where is it most used?
• What are the benefits of Sustainable Agriculture?
• Examples of Sustainable Agriculture in Brazil
• Get to know Redda+

What is Sustainable Agriculture?

Sustainable agriculture is a cultivation carried out respecting the environment, in addition to having an investment to reduce production costs. This reduction is also linked to the intelligent use of natural resources, avoiding waste in the processes.

Food production in sustainable agriculture also considers the absence of pesticides or, at least, the reduction of the most toxic ones.

Therefore, the principles of sustainable agriculture are linked to the use of agricultural practices that consider the well-being of nature and society.

To achieve this goal, techniques and technologies are used to reduce the use of non-renewable natural resources, creating effective opportunities in plantations. There is also a concern to provide a fair working environment for farmers.

What is curious is that there is a growing trend of consumers who understand the importance of products linked to sustainable agriculture. Consumers’ concern about being poisoned by chemicals used in food affects producers.

So, in a way, sustainable agriculture presents itself as a solution for producers who want to remain in the market. It is an alternative to produce efficiently and without burdening your pocket.

How does sustainable agriculture work?

Sustainable agriculture works from the creation of a plan, considering the necessary changes and the importance of the viability of the business. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, sustainable agriculture is:

“the management and conservation of the natural resource base and the technological and institutional orientation, in order to ensure the achievement and continuous satisfaction of human needs for present and future generations. Such sustainable development (agriculture, forestry, and fishing) results in the conservation of soil, water, and genetic, animal and plant resources, in addition to not degrading the environment, being technically appropriate, economically viable and socially acceptable.”

The sustainable agriculture practices that make it work are interconnected. Despite this, they can start independently, and, gradually, the farmer adapts to the new practices. Check out some practices for sustainable agriculture to work:

• Soil health is important for sustainable agriculture, so farming methods should consider using methods to promote it. But one should also consider how much the activity is polluting the air and water.

• Reduction of water use, you can use rainwater harvesting systems, reusing water for irrigation. There are other techniques, which should be studied considering the needs of the producer.

• Decreased levels of pollution on the farm. From the amount of chemical fertilizers, the non-use of pesticides, to other actions. It is possible to invest in sustainable techniques like biological nitrogen fixation. The practice of organic agriculture is a great solution.

• Another practice of sustainable agriculture is the use of agroenergy, a means of using the energy produced in the field to carry out agricultural actions.

• Do not deforest green areas to expand agricultural areas. It is necessary to consider green space. Identify the real need for this expansion before simply deforesting.

• Respect the labor laws of field workers and invest in professional training.

Where is it most used?

Sustainable agriculture has been gaining ground in countries, but there are still no specific lists of which most use the techniques.

And there is the question of the proportion of territories. For example, the small Netherlands is recognized worldwide for its high agricultural production. Australia and Argentina also often appear on the organic agriculture investment list.

Brazil, for example, is one of the countries that have demonstrated progress in sustainable agricultural production. Despite the bad record of deforestation and high level of pesticides, the country grows in productivity based on technology and science.

The organic market has grown and Brazil is already on the list of the largest organic producers in the world. The country already has almost 30 thousand organic producers, and Paraná is the state with the largest number of organic rural producers.

What are the benefits of Sustainable Agriculture?

The benefits of sustainable agriculture are linked to the well-being of society, the environment, and the economy. Through sustainable agriculture techniques, it is possible to reduce environmental impacts, offering less aggressive alternatives.

In addition, there is an improvement in the working environment for rural workers. Check out some of the benefits of sustainable agriculture:

• reduces waste;
• the use of natural resources is optimized, for example, promotes better water management;
• future supply is less compromised;
• the food produced is healthier and safer;
• the soil is less attacked, ensuring more quality for continued use;
• there is a standardization in the quality of the raw material;
• guarantees diversity in crops and biodiversity;
• improves the quality of life in the countryside;
• consumers and suppliers establish a relationship of social well-being, and there is an improvement in the image.

Examples of Sustainable Agriculture in Brazil

In the 1980s, agronomist Ana Maria Primavesi published on the importance of ecological management. And her studies were essential for the development of the Brazilian agroecological movement. It is a demonstration of how the country has professionals and researchers concerned with inserting sustainable agriculture.

Through sustainable agriculture, Embrapa emphasizes the importance of applying sustainable techniques in agriculture. Brazil follows a growth in the production of organic products and more consumers are selective in the choice of food that goes to the table. Organic agriculture is one of the examples of sustainable agriculture in Brazil.

Other examples of sustainable agriculture in Brazil are related to the decrease in the expansion of agricultural areas, and understanding the importance of not deforestation. There is also a huge investment in renewable energy. Other techniques used in sustainable agriculture in Brazil:

• the crop rotation system;
• integrated pest management;
• use of animal waste for the production of biogas, transforming it into electrical energy;
• rainwater harvesting to reuse water in irrigation;
• agroforestry systems;
• etc.

In May of this year, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (Mapa) launched a campaign encouraging organic products. The program is a response to support the number of organic producers, which grew by 450% from last year to 2022. These are producers regulated by the National Register of Organic Producers (CNPO). And, in this case, we are talking about one of the ways to practice sustainable agriculture.

Find out how Redda+ and you can help preserve the Amazon

Redda+ is an organization concerned with applying sustainable actions to help the growth and development of communities in the Amazon region. For this, it creates projects using REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) mechanisms. In addition to supporting the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The projects are designed based on the needs of the community that will receive the actions. For example, Redda+ is currently interacting with a community in Portel, Pará. This project includes medical care, actions that help improve the quality of life of residents, as well as training and guidance courses. It is an attempt to show the possibility of growth while maintaining balance in economic, social, environmental, and cultural issues.

Also in Portel, Redda+ offered a course on raising stingless bees. The course was offered in collaboration with the Instituto de Desenvolvimento Florestal e da Biodiversidade do Estado do Pará (IDEFLOR Bio).

Meliponiculture is an important economic activity to deal with the loss of biodiversity, helping in the sustainable use of ecosystems. It is also a production chain that brings food security and income to agro-extractive families in the Amazon.

In addition to encouraging sustainable growth, Redda+ inserts oxygen into the atmosphere to offset excessive carbon emissions. Click here and understand more about Redda+ projects and how their actions have generated positive results in the communities and traditional peoples of the Amazon.