Soy expansion in Brazil's Cerrado

Soy expansion is a significant driver of land conversion and Forest Code violations in Brazil's Cerrado biome, accounting for 22% of deforestation between 2003 and 2014. Despite restrictions under the Forest Code, 51% of soy farms violated these regulations, at a rate five times higher than other agricultural sectors. The study analyzed over 580,000 property boundaries covering 77% of the biome's eligible areas, using microwatersheds to assess potential pathways for future soy expansion on both old and new croplands. These findings highlight the urgent need for stronger environmental regulations and incentives to redirect soy production away from protected areas.

Rausch, L. L., Gibbs, H. K., Schelly, I., Brandão, A., Morton, D. C., Filho, A. C., Strassburg, B., Walker, N., Noojipady, P., Barreto, P., & Meyer, D. (2019). Soy expansion in Brazil’s Cerrado. Conservation Letters, 12(6). Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/conl.12671