Climate Mitigation Through Improving Productivity of Brazil’s Agricultural Lands

As the home of the Amazon rainforest and significant agricultural production, preventing deforestation to reduce emissions is a high priority for Brazil. Deforestation and emissions have slowed in the past decade, but a recent increase shows lingering challenges. Researchers at the Climate Policy Initiative studied four examples of increased agricultural productivity in Brazil. They concluded that Brazil’s cleared lands are underused and that agricultural productivity gains can be achieved without additional deforestation. Notable good practices and actions associated with balancing agriculture with environmental stewardship, and profiled in this case study, are highlighted below.

• Cleared land used primarily for cattle grazing can be transitioned to crop production, thereby increasing agricultural productivity.
• Improving cattle grazing efficiency on cleared land also boosts productivity.
• Technology, including greater access to electric power, can make farming practices more efficient than traditional, land-intensive practices, helping farmers economically while at the same time reducing deforestation
• Public policy and market-based mechanisms working in tandem can promote better natural resource management.