U.S. corn subsidies aggravating Amazon deforestation
The law of unintended consequences has struck again and once again corn ethanol is at the center of it. The net benefits of producing fuel ethanol from corn are constantly debated here and elsewhere. Now there is yet another potentially huge cost to America's desire to use maize as a fuel. Dr. William Laurance of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute has released a new study blaming U.S. corn subsidies for a recent surge in the burning of Amazon rain forests. In the past two years, U.S. corn production has spiked by 19 percent, mostly at the expense of soy production. That has led to a commensurate increase in soy prices, as Brazilian soy farmers have sought to increase their production. That extra production requires land which is currently rain forests. Unfortunately soy fields consume a lot less CO2 than rain forests and don't provide the habitat required by the animals that live there.
[Source: Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Fogaça 10:12PM (2/10/2008)
An information from a Brazillian reader:
Actually, it's not true that ethanol or maize are palnted on amazon region. Deforrestaion on Amzon is not caused by increasing of Brazilian production of grains, sugar cane or meat.
Brazillian transport infrastructure in the amazon is a disaster, it would be impossible to install ethanol factories there, neither crops could be transported from there.
Studies about deforrestation actually indicates that it decreased in the last 5 years, since the government enforced environmental laws in the region.
The maiin production of Brazil's ethanol comes from S. Paulo state, 2000 Km far from amazon border.
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Dad 1:24PM (1/02/2008)
"has released a new study blaming U.S. corn subsidies for a recent surge in the burning of Amazon rain forests."
Does anyone ever take responsibility for their own actions? is the victim mentality rampant everywhere? If you don't want to burn the rain forest, don't light the match. According to Sam, the USA is responsible for "all" the worlds ills, including loss of the rain forests. Take Brazil to task for their failure to manage their own land, not the USA.
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C.J. 6:48PM (10/04/2008)
In response to Dad's post, one cannot simply divide Brazil and the U.S. in many senses. Given increases in population, communication, and trade, the planet, which has not gotten bigger has become smaller in terms of resources per person. The U.S. and China's increase in CO2 emissions does affect more than just those in their borders. Moreover, we don't live in a world of isolated domestic trade and production. The choices we make affect and are affected by other countries. Perhaps Dad should also consider that U.S. tariffs against Brazilian sugar and sugar-based ethanol is costing consumers more than they would otherwise pay. U.S. sugar is extremely higher than the world price, which you and I pay for directly to the producer, as subsidy laws for sugar disallow the govt to get revenue through the subsidies. Moreover, sugar-based ethanol is 1/2 as costly to produce than corn-ethanol. Plus, corn-ethanol takes twice as much land as to produce than sugar cane based. Corn-ethanol itself is twice as expensive as gasoline to produce, 2/3 as efficient, and would not be able to survive w/o heavily lobbied govt. subsidies. This lobbying has led to desertification and a decrease in soy production in the U.S. I agree, blame is a strong word to describe the phenomenon at present, but the U.S. certainly has a part to play, with the Agribusiness and Sugar lobbyists (Archer Daniels Midland and American Sugar Alliance) at the heart of the issue.
TG 1:55PM (1/02/2008)
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steven 1:56PM (1/02/2008)
Heck, next they'll blame the U.S for the Brazilian farmers being able to sell their crops at a price that allows them to feed and clothe their children! Will the future find that due to the downfall of the former Big-3 automakers, forests will be ripped down to bulid new factories to supply the US with new South American-made VW's???
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sensitive_man 2:59PM (1/02/2008)
To the posters above: Get a clue! The world and it's eco-sytems are all intertwined. Our actions have direct impacts on the planet and the people that inhabit it. Everything you consume dictates those actions.
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Throwback 3:19PM (1/02/2008)
Yes we are intertwined with the rest of the world, does that absolve Brazil of it's responsibility? Is the USA now "responsible" for fixing the world's problems since we are intertwined economically and ecologically? Should our government pass legislation designed to help Brazil's farmers at the expense of our farmers? Do you think Brazil would pass legislation to help our farmers at the expense of their farmers? Unless we as a nation are willing to give up our sovereignty I don't see how we can look out for other countries interest at the expense of our own. I don't see how any politician can make that case to the voters of this country.
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Dad 5:18PM (1/02/2008)
"Brazil is one of the leaders of the ethanol industry and is eager to increase its exports. "
Brazil is "destroying" its own rain forest on its own. For an "expert" to lay blame at the feet of the USA is naive and stupid. Brazil is populated by adults who make their own decisions about what and what not to do with their rain forests.
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Domenick 6:49PM (1/02/2008)
Why should America do something? Because it's in our interest. The Amazon is an important part of the planet's ecosystem and too much has already been lost. Yeah, it sucks that the Brazilian authorities can't manage it better but that doesn't mean we shouldn't do what we can. Maybe if they started growing coca and poppy instead of soy we would care more.
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Owain Ozymandias Buck 10:18AM (1/03/2008)
If Brazil can't get on track with sustainable agricultural practices, it's not the fault of anyone but Brazil. High prices don't make anyone do something--deforestation is a choice.
Perhaps education and offering incentives for set asides might be a better approach than blaming U.S. growers. American farmers are an easy bunch to blame--you fuckers don't even know any.
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