Brazil – as food superpower in The Economist

September the 6th 2010 via http://www.agfood.net/2010/09/brazil-as-food-superpower-in-economist.html Continuing with AGRI FOOD THNK TANK analysis of what we consider the most promising food producer in the world, we share a couple of analysis made by The Economist during last week. The leading economic magazine. The Economist describes in two recent releases the current situation of Brazil as food producer. Both notes have interesting data on available land, current infrastructure development and potential of the new agricultural frontiers. Brazil has more spare farmland than any other country (see chart 3). The FAO puts its total potential arable land at over 400m hectares; only 50m is being used. Brazilian official figures put the available land somewhat lower, at 300m hectares. Brazil alone (population: 190m) has as much renewable water as the whole of Asia (population: 4 billion). And again, this is not mainly because of the Amazon. Piauí is one of the country’s driest...
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US agriculture faces ‘colliding’ forces

By ROD SMITH Source: www.farmonline.com.au US PORK producers are ending what has possibly been their worst-ever economic period, having experienced huge losses for 30 months because of a combination of factors - most of which have been beyond their control. In response, the National Pork Board has developed and launched a new strategic plan to advertise and promote pork, conduct industry research and provide consumer and producer information (Feedstuffs, March 29). In that plan, the board outlined a number of challenges and opportunities for the pork sector that also are just as applicable to all of US agriculture. American agriculture has entered a new time in which production has not only changed dramatically but will continue to change rapidly, if not abruptly, according to the plan. "At the very highest level," a number of macro forces are contributing to "a new world order for US agriculture," several of which "are colliding at the...
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