produced 68 million tonnes of soya. This generated a total of E17 billion, making it the country’s most important agricultural export.
Soya production is most intensive in the south of the country as the climate is suitable to two harvests per year, without the need for irrigation. However, as global demand increases, soya production has begun moving northwards towards the edges of the Amazon Rainforest.
Sugar Cane
Brazil is the largest producer and exporter of sugar cane in the world. It is now grown throughout the country for food and for the production of ethanol. Ethanol is a biofuel which is produced from crushed sugar cane. Ethanol production began in the 1970s as a means of reducing fossil fuel imports. Today, Brazil produces almost one-third of the world supply of ethanol. Over 50 per cent of all cars in the country now use it.
Coffee
Brazil is the largest producer of coffee in the world. Coffee once accounted for 60 per cent of Brazil’s exports but this has fallen to just 2 per cent. Coffee is grown mainly on the terra rossa soils of the São Paulo, Minas Gerais and Paraná states at altitudes of 1000 m as temperatures are cooler.
Cattle Ranching
Brazil is one of the largest beef producers in the world, with the second largest cattle herd in the world (after India). Ranching occupies 75 per cent of agricultural land in the country. Beef production employs approximately 360 000 people. Cattle ranching is carried out in many parts of the country and is continually spreading to new areas. Originally, cattle were reared on the rich grassy plains in the south. It has now spread north and west to Brazil’s interior and Amazon Basin. The government aims to double beef production over the next 10 years, but there is major concern over how this will happen without further destruction to the rainforest.
Peru Loreto
Amazonas San Martin
Ucayali Acre Pando
Madre de Dios
Beni
Brazilian beef accounts for just under half of all EU beef imports (131 000 tonnes). The
Brazilian beef industry is worth just under E4 billion per year.
Bolivia Santa Cruz 11– 20 M (M = millions) : Fig. 25.17 Livestock herds in the Amazon Basin Mato grosso 4.5– 11 M Rondonia Tocantins
: Fig. 25.16 All fuel stations are required to sell ethanol as well as fossil fuels.
2.35% 1.67% 4.40% 28.32% 11.13% 7.21% 8.11% 20.26% 12.15% : Fig. 25.15 Soya bean production in Brazilian states 4.40%
