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New Forms of Land Grabbing Due to the Bioeconomy: The Case of Brazil

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  • Eva Cudlínová

    (Department of Regional Management, Faculty of Economics, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, České Budějovice, Studentská 13 CZ-37005, Czech Republic)

  • Valny Giacomelli Sobrinho

    (Department of Economics and International Relations, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul 97105-900, Brazil)

  • Miloslav Lapka

    (Department of Regional Management, Faculty of Economics, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, České Budějovice, Studentská 13 CZ-37005, Czech Republic)

  • Luca Salvati

    (Department of Economics and Law, University of Macerata, I-62100 Via Armaroli 43, Italy)

Abstract

The present study discusses new forms of land grabbing related to biofuel production in the light of bioeconomic development. With a specific focus on Brazil, this article debates whether biofuel production is associated with (i) an expansion of agricultural land use—regarded as a process of unsustainable crop intensification or (ii) an increase in crop yield, driven by technical innovation with stable land use—intended as a form of sustainable intensification. We conclude that, in the case of Brazil, the current bioeconomy cannot be assumed to be environmentally sustainable. Starting from Brazil’s experience, the (apparent and latent) relationship between bioeconomy and land grabbing requires a refined investigation in both wealthier and emerging economies, with the aim of proposing effective strategies to achieve truly sustainable development in the primary sector.

Suggested Citation

  • Eva Cudlínová & Valny Giacomelli Sobrinho & Miloslav Lapka & Luca Salvati, 2020. "New Forms of Land Grabbing Due to the Bioeconomy: The Case of Brazil," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-15, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:8:p:3395-:d:348626
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    Cited by:

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    2. Maria Backhouse & Kristina Lorenzen, 2021. "Knowledge Production and Land Relations in the Bioeconomy. A Case Study on the Brazilian Sugar-Bioenergy Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-16, April.
    3. Mairon G. Bastos Lima, 2021. "Corporate Power in the Bioeconomy Transition: The Policies and Politics of Conservative Ecological Modernization in Brazil," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-20, June.
    4. Christina-Ioanna Papadopoulou & Efstratios Loizou & Fotios Chatzitheodoridis, 2022. "Priorities in Bioeconomy Strategies: A Systematic Literature Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-15, October.
    5. Jaroslav Vrchota & Martin Pech & Ladislav Rolínek & Jiří Bednář, 2020. "Sustainability Outcomes of Green Processes in Relation to Industry 4.0 in Manufacturing: Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-47, July.
    6. Rodrigo Salvador & Reinalda Blanco Pereira & Gabriel Fernandes Sales & Vanessa Campana Vergani Oliveira & Anthony Halog & Antonio C. Francisco, 2022. "Current Panorama, Practice Gaps, and Recommendations to Accelerate the Transition to a Circular Bioeconomy in Latin America and the Caribbean," Circular Economy and Sustainability,, Springer.
    7. Ollinaho, Ossi I. & Kröger, Markus, 2023. "Separating the two faces of “bioeconomy”: Plantation economy and sociobiodiverse economy in Brazil," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).

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