O impacto da cultura da soja sobre o efetivo bovino de corte no município de Dom Pedrito

Abstract

The growth of agribusiness is essential for Brazil, which is one of the greatest worldwide food producers and exporters. Among the most important economic systems, the soybean production, in 2015, may be considered one of the areas which grew the most. Livestock also keeps growing, however, in considerably smaller proportions. Emphasizing the rural context permeated by those productions in cities of Rio Grande do Sul, especially in Dom Pedrito, the aim of this assignment was to comprehend the evolution of the soybean crops and the possible impact of that culture in beef cattle in Dom Pedrito. This study is justified by the historical, economic and socio-cultural association the city has with livestock, where, currently, the areas intended for the activity start presenting the insertion of soybean crops. The methodology was based in literature review and both secondary and primary data analysis, those being based on interviews which were held with key-informants who are representatives of the several beef cattle and soybean chain links. As a result, different opinions on beef cattle reduction, where the most did not agree with the affirmation stressing the intensification of the production based on the increase of productivity. Regarding to the expansion of the areas with soybean, all of the interviewed people confirmed their growth. Generally, the analised systems do not confirm the substitution of beef cattle with soybean crops. However, some of the interviewed people showed some concern, both on environmental impacts – flora, fauna and difficulty on area convertion – and economic – reduction on credit release, high investiments with return to livestock – and social, represented for the difficulty in accessing labor for cattle activity. Finally, aware of the insufficiency of elements for affirmations, we expect, at least, to instigate new deep studies on the theme which might contribute for the sustainability of livestock, as well as for the Pampa biome.