Ranching and the new global range: Amazônia in the 21st century

In the SPs of Southeastern Pará, a multiplicity of factors potentially affect the switch from subsistence agriculture to cattle ranching, including the availability of credit and strong economic returns stemming from the global demand for beef.

“In the SPs of Southeastern Pará, a multiplicity of factors potentially affect the switch from subsistence agriculture to cattle ranching, including the availability of credit and strong economic returns stemming from the global demand for beef [2,12,17].”

Despite early prognostication that the region was not viable for agriculture and ranching in particular offered little promise of success without massive government subsidies, animal husbandry has proven more successful and resilient.

“Despite early prognostication that the region was not viable for agriculture and ranching in particular offered little promise of success without massive government subsidies [11], animal husbandry has proven more successful and resilient [12].”

The decline in cattle density would appear to contradict the expected pecuarização of Amazonia, and the overall importance of cattle in the region.

“The decline in cattle density would appear to contradict the expected pecuarização of Amazonia, and the overall importance of cattle in the region [12].”

Southeastern Pará is one of Brazil's largest beef exporting areas to international markets, as a result of concerted government investments to eradicate Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), and its subsequent designation as a FMD-free zone in 2007, open to international export under requirements of the World Organization for Animal Health.

“Today, this region is one of Brazil's largest beef exporting areas to international markets, as a result of concerted government investments to eradicate Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), and its subsequent designation as a FMD-free zone in 2007, open to international export under requirements of the World Organization for Animal Health [12].”