Integration of crops, livestock, and forestry: a system of production for the Brazilian Cerrados

Some of the most promising and at the same time some of the most challenging areas of future food production are found in the savannas of South America. Integrating cropping, livestock, and forestry in these regions can increase the eco-efficiency of agricultural production. This chapter presents a case study of an integrated crop, livestock, and forestry system in Brazil. The study area is in Goiás State in the Cerrado region, a vast savanna covering almost one quarter of Brazil's land area. About half of the area suited to agriculture in the Cerrrado is under cultivated pasture, but much of this is degraded as a result of overgrazing. The systems studied in this report include different arrangements to test productivity, profitability and sustainability of eucalyptus, crops, and pastures. Findings demonstrated that integrated crop, livestock, and forestry systems are economically and technically feasible in the Cerrados. In addition to producing food of high biological value (meat and milk), cultivated pasture provides other important environmental benefits, including long-term ground cover, carbon fixation, increases in soil organic matter content; and reduction in the emission of greenhouse gases.