Brazil has increased ninefold the area under soybean cultivation from 4.4 million hectares in 1985 to nearly 40 million hectares in 2023, a MapBiomas study shows, noting that the increase represents 14% of Brazil’s agricultural land.
The cultivated area with soya crops from 1985 to 2008 – the first 23 years of the analysis – reached 18 million hectares, 30 per cent of which resulted from the clearing of native vegetation whereas 26% were converted from pastures.
Soya crops were increased by a further 17 million hectares between 2009 and 2023, 15% of which were converted from native vegetation and 36% were converted from pastures.
MapBiomas study also showed a significant increase – from 18 million to 60 million hectares – in temporary crops – soya, sugarcane, rice, and cotton – which grew over 38 years.
