Context and Challenges Regarding the Environmental Certification of Soy Production in the Matopiba Region of Brazil

Abstract

Brazil has become one of the world’s largest grain producers and exporters by increasing productivity as well as expanding its agricultural frontiers in the last decades. Globally, the relevance of the consumer awareness of the need to preserve natural ecosystems is strengthened and consumer has demanded information from suppliers that demonstrate the sustainability of the productive chains. In the Matopiba region, the last agricultural frontier in the Brazilian Cerrado biome, soy producers are being encouraged to adhere to the <i> responsible soy </i> certification standard. This study evaluated three groups of certified soy producers. Field research has shown that farmers have common expectations: legitimacy, risk reduction, land valuation, and promotion of different modalities of access to the certification system.