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Sugar Cane Expansion: Does It Contribute To Amazon Deforestation?

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  • Castro, Eduardo Rodrigues de
  • Teixeira, Erly Cardoso
  • Valdes, Constanza
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    Abstract

    The aim of this study is to investigate the direct and indirect impacts of sugarcane expansion on deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon from 2001 to 2008. The analysis is based on the multi-output production theory where the annual agricultural acreage represents the Production Possibility Frontier. It assumes that agricultural area is limited and any agricultural expansion occurs over traditional agricultural areas displacing some crops and pushing them to the agricultural frontier, where forests will be cleared. The econometric analysis was carried out using a panel data model where the counties are the cross section unity. The output supply for São Paulo state and the agricultural frontier states (Mato Grosso, Rondônia, Maranhão and Tocantins) in the Center-West region are estimated separately, considering the acreage as proxy of the output and the crop prices of sugarcane, soybean, corn, beans, cotton and the total annual acreage as the independent variables. The impact of crop prices and the annual agricultural crop expansion over the deforestation acreage are also estimated. Our best estimates reveal that it is not possible to establish a direct connection between sugarcane area expansion and Amazon deforestation, and while the indirect effects are very small, sugarcane also expanded over pastures and perennial crops, leading to an overall increase in annual crop area.

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    Bibliographic Info

    Paper provided by International Association of Agricultural Economists in its series 2012 Conference, August 18-24, 2012, Foz do Iguacu, Brazil with number 131703.

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    Date of creation: 20 Aug 2012
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    Handle: RePEc:ags:iaae12:131703

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    Keywords: Brazil; sugarcane; agricultural frontier; Amazon deforestation; Agricultural and Food Policy; Crop Production/Industries; Research Methods/ Statistical Methods; Q110; Q160; Q230;

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    1. Fabiosa, Jacinto F. & Beghin, John C. & Dong, Fengxia & Elobeid, Amani & Tokgoz, Simla & Yu, Tun-Hsiang, 2009. "Land Allocation Effects of the Global Ethanol Surge: Predictions from the International FAPRI Model," Staff General Research Papers 13054, Iowa State University, Department of Economics.
    2. Searchinger, Timothy & Heimlich, Ralph & Houghton, R. A. & Dong, Fengxia & Elobeid, Amani & Fabiosa, Jacinto F. & Tokgoz, Simla & Hayes, Dermot J. & Yu, Hun-Hsiang, 2008. "Use of U.S. Croplands for Biofuels Increases Greenhouse Gases Through Emissions from Land-Use Change," Staff General Research Papers 12881, Iowa State University, Department of Economics.
    3. Chagas, Andre Luiz Squarize & Toneto Junior, Rudinei, 2008. "Teremos Que Trocar Energia Por Comida? Análise Do Impacto Da Expansão Da Produção De Cana-De-Açúcar Sobre O Preço Da Terra E Dos Alimentos," 46th Congress, July 20-23, 2008, Rio Branco, Acre, Brasil 108570, Sociedade Brasileira de Economia, Administracao e Sociologia Rural (SOBER).
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