According to analysts at FarmDoc, Brazil could increase its crop area by 35%, adding approximately 70 million acres of cropland. This expansion could be facilitated by converting overgrazed and overgrown pastureland, particularly in key agricultural states like Mato Grosso. The analysts emphasize the suitability of degraded pastureland for conversion, which refers to land that is overgrazed, overgrown with weeds and in need of restoration. They note this doesn’t necessarily reflect the productivity of the soil itself.
The potential for expansion isn’t solely reliant on converting pastureland. The analysts suggest intensifying land use for second-crop corn, known as safrinha, which could be grown immediately after the soybean harvest each year. Currently, safrinha corn occupies about 40% of soybean land.
Of note: Challenges such as increasing fuel and fertilizer costs, limitations for credit and storage, an overburdened transportation system and environmental preservation pressures could hinder the long-term growth of Brazilian agriculture. These factors underscore the complexities involved in realizing Brazil’s agricultural expansion potential.
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