The Rise of Brazil as an Agricultural Superpower and the Dilemma over the Amazon Rain Forest: A Treadmill of Production View

Abstract:     
Guided by treadmill of production theory, the paper shows how rising world demand for meats has contributed to deforestation in the southern portion of the Brazilian Amazon rainforest, specifically in the state of Mato Grosso, through the expansion of both cattle herding and soybean agriculture. These economic activities in Mato Grosso are described as part of a global agricultural treadmill of production. Their expansion in the state has led to deforestation in existing private properties and in public forested lands, large portions of which have been taken over and commodified. In addition to exploring the role of economic relationships on deforestation, the paper describes the ideology that lubricates the treadmill of production in Mato Grosso. It argues that ideology plays a vital role in the ecopolitics of development vs. preservation. Success in markets for agricultural products has led the Brazilian government to aim at transforming the country into an agricultural superpower, a goal in line with nationalist development ideology that can be adverse to preservation. The paper also describes how ideology affects local people's perception of environmentalist organizations and their calls for preservation. Due to their opposition to commodity agriculture, environmentalist organizations have become the target of hostility from nationalist and pro-development groups who see them as being against development, and thus anti Brazil. Passages from field interviews conducted during a visit to Mato Grosso in April 2007 and news accounts are used to illustrate how ideology helps sustain the status quo. Statistical analysis of data on a municipal level for the state of Mato Grosso is used to reveal the effect of cattle herding and soybean agriculture on deforestation.

Working Paper Series