99-483: The agriculture of Brazil is historically one of the principal bases of Brazil's economy . As of 2024 the country is the second biggest grain exporter in the world, with 19% of the international market share, and the fourth overall grain producer. Brazil is also the world's largest exporter of many popular agriculture commodities like coffee , soybeans , organic honey , beef , poultry , cane sugar , açai berry , orange juice , yerba mate , cellulose , tobacco , and
198-516: A 1% growth in the first quarter, followed by a 0.3% growth in second quarter compared to the same period of the previous year. It officially exited the recession. According to the World Economic Forum , Brazil was the top country in upward evolution of competitiveness in 2009, gaining eight positions among other countries, overcoming Russia for the first time, and partially closing the competitiveness gap with India and China among
297-524: A backdrop of policies opening Brazil to Neoliberal economic forces and intense competition through Mercosul , PRONAF marked the institutionalization of a differentiated policy approach to family farming in Brazil. The economic and social importance of family farmers and their specific needs were recognized through PRONAF, at least on paper. The creation of PRONAF has been credited to favorable political circumstances, beginning with Brazil's re-democratization in
396-743: A defense, concentrated in the seeds. (Although effective against other attackers, cyanogenic glycosides are not very effective against fungal pathogens . In rare cases, they are even detrimental. This is the case for the rubber tree, which actually suffers worse from Pseudocercospora ulei when it produces more cyanogenic glycosides. This may be because cyanide inhibits the production of other defensive metabolites. This results in significantly divergent subpopulations with selection for or against cyanogenic glycosides, depending on local likelihoods of fungal or non-fungal pest pressure.) The carbon and nitrogen in CGs are recycled for growth and latex production if needed, and
495-660: A population of over 190 million and abundant natural resources, Brazil is one of the ten largest markets in the world, producing tens of millions of tons of steel, 26 million tons of cement, 3.5 million television sets, and 3 million refrigerators. In addition, about 70 million cubic meters of petroleum were being processed annually into fuels, lubricants, propane gas, and a wide range of hundreds of petrochemicals. Brazil has at least 161,500 kilometers of paved roads, more than 150 gigawatts of installed electric power capacity and its real per capita GDP surpassed US$ 9,800 in 2017. Its industrial sector accounts for three-fifths of
594-594: A problem when the Europeans adopted the practice aggressively around 1500, divided land into farms, began monocropping, etc. The combination of burning with these new farming methods decimated native flora. Brazilian coffee production exceeded global demand at the beginning of the 20th century. This resulted in the Taubaté Agreement, where the State began acquiring surplus for destruction and planting seedlings
693-660: A radical transformation: the State cut subsidies and the market began to finance agriculture, leading to the replacement of manpower with machines. Brazil's rural population fell from 20,700,000 in 1985 to 17,900,000 in 1995, followed by a decrease in import taxes on inputs and other measures that forced Brazilian producers to adapt to global practices. The raise of productivity, mechanization (with reduction of costs) and professionalization marked that period. The first irrigation experiments in Brazil occurred in Rio Grande do Sul, for cultivating rice. The first record dates to 1881 with
792-437: Is a capsule that contains three large seeds; it opens explosively when ripe. In the wild the tree can reach a height of up to 43 metres (141 ft). The white or yellow latex occurs in latex vessels in the bark , mostly outside the phloem . These vessels spiral up the tree in a right-handed helix which forms an angle of about 30 degrees with the horizontal, and can grow as high as 15 metres (49 ft). In plantations
891-547: Is a longstanding structural problem for Brazilian agriculture. Calmon noted that, since the Empire, "the disposal of the harvest is difficult" and indicated that "the old projects of iron roads or cartable paths, linking the coast to the central mountains [...] are resisted by skeptical statesmen, quoting Thiers, who, in 1841, believed that railways were not convenient to France". Crops are immediately trucked to market via highways, mostly in poor traffic conditions at high cost. For
990-462: Is advanced to be a permanent member of the OECD . From a colony focused on primary sector goods (sugar, gold and cotton), Brazil managed to create a diversified industrial base during the 20th century. The steel industry is a prime example of that, with Brazil being the 9th largest steel producer in 2018, and the 5th largest steel net exporter in 2018. Gerdau is the largest producer of long steel in
1089-412: Is estimated at 100.77 million of which 10 percent is occupied in agriculture, 19 percent in the industry sector and 71 percent in the service sector. Brazil is the world's largest producer of sugarcane , soy , coffee , orange , guaraná , açaí and Brazil nut ; is one of the top 5 producers of maize , papaya , tobacco , pineapple , banana , cotton , beans , coconut , watermelon and lemon ;
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#17327753158021188-495: Is known as rubber tapping . Latex production is highly variable from tree to tree and across clone types. As latex production declines with age, rubber trees are generally felled when they reach the age of 25 to 30 years. The earlier practice was to burn the trees, but in recent decades, the wood has been harvested for furniture making. The South American rubber tree grew only in the Amazon rainforest , and increasing demand and
1287-678: Is located at the Central Nuclear Almirante Álvaro Alberto (CNAAA) on the Praia de Itaorna in Angra dos Reis , Rio de Janeiro . It consists of two pressurized water reactors , Angra I, with capacity of 657 MW, connected to the power grid in 1982, and Angra II, with capacity of 1,350 MW, connected in 2000. A third reactor, Angra III, with a projected output of 1,350 MW, is planned to be finished. As of October 2022, according to ONS, total installed capacity of photovoltaic solar
1386-479: Is managed by Regional Engineering and Architecture Councils, integrated at the national level by CONFEA. Educational activity is supported by the Federation of Brazilian Agronomy Students. The Brazilian Enterprise for Agricultural Research ( EMBRAPA ) was established during the military regime in 1973 with the objective of diversifying production. The body was responsible for the support of new crops, adapted to
1485-496: Is one of the main world producers of hydroelectric power . In 2019, Brazil had 217 hydroelectric plants in operation, with an installed capacity of 98,581 MW, 60.16% of the country's energy generation. In the total generation of electricity, in 2019 Brazil reached 170,000 megawatts of installed capacity, more than 75% from renewable sources (the majority, hydroelectric). In 2013, the Southeast Region used about 50% of
1584-405: Is one of the top 10 world producers of cocoa , cashew , avocado , tangerine , persimmon , mango , guava , rice , sorghum and tomato ; and is one of the top 15 world producers of grape , apple , melon , peanut , fig , peach , onion , palm oil and natural rubber . In the production of animal proteins, Brazil is today one of the largest countries in the world. In 2019, the country
1683-497: Is rich in natural resources . From 2000 to 2012, Brazil was one of the fastest-growing major economies in the world, with an average annual GDP growth rate of over 5%. Its GDP surpassed that of the United Kingdom in 2012, temporarily making Brazil the world's sixth-largest economy. However, Brazil's economic growth decelerated in 2013 and the country entered a recession in 2014 . The economy started to recover in 2017, with
1782-495: Is second only to the United States (2nd place) and Mexico (12th place). In the food industry , in 2019, Brazil was the second largest exporter of processed foods in the world. In 2016, the country was the 2nd largest producer of pulp in the world and the 8th producer of paper . In the footwear industry , in 2019, Brazil ranked 4th among world producers. In 2019, the country was the 8th producer of vehicles and
1881-592: The Azores and Madeira ), Italy , Spain , Germany , Poland , Ukraine , Switzerland , Austria and Russia . Smaller numbers of immigrants also came from the Netherlands , France , Finland , Iceland and the Scandinavian countries, Lithuania , Belgium , Bulgaria , Hungary , Greece , Latvia , England , Ireland , Scotland , Croatia , Czech Republic , Malta , North Macedonia and Luxembourg ,
1980-480: The BRICS economies. Important steps taken since the 1990s toward fiscal sustainability, as well as measures taken to liberalize and open the economy, have significantly boosted the country's competitiveness fundamentals, providing a better environment for private-sector development. Brazil is a member of diverse economic organizations, such as Mercosur , Prosur , G8+5 , G20 , WTO , Paris Club , Cairns Group , and
2079-532: The Central-western region ( savannah ), the northern region (area of transition) and parts of the northeastern region (semi-arid). At the forefront of grain crops, which produce over 110 million tonnes/year, is the soybean , yielding 50 million tonnes. In the cattle-raising sector, the "green ox," which is raised in pastures, on a diet of hay and mineral salts, conquered markets in Asia, Europe and
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#17327753158022178-799: The Mesoamerican ballgame . Early attempts were made in 1873 to grow H. brasiliensis outside Brazil . After some effort, 12 seedlings were germinated at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . These were sent to India for cultivation, but died. A second attempt was then made, some 70,000 seeds being smuggled to Kew in 1875, by Henry Wickham , in the service of the British Empire. About four percent of these germinated, and in 1876, about 2,000 seedlings were sent, in Wardian cases , to Ceylon (modern day Sri Lanka) and 22 were sent to
2277-543: The Middle East (mainly from Lebanon , Syria and Armenia ), Japan , the United States and South Africa , until the 1930s. In fact, international mass immigration to Brazil during the 19th century had positive effects on the country's human capital development . Immigrants usually exhibited better formal and informal training than native Brazilians and tended to have more entrepreneurial spirit. Their arrival
2376-516: The Plano Real , Brazilian and multinational businesses have invested heavily in new equipment and technology, a large proportion of which has been purchased from U.S. firms. The World Bank lists the main producing countries each year, based on the total production value. According to the 2019 list, Brazil has the 13th most valuable industry in the world (US$ 173.6 billion). In the Americas , it
2475-473: The Southern Hemisphere in nominal terms. The Brazilian economy is the third largest in the Americas . It is an upper-middle income developing mixed economy . In 2024, according to International Monetary Fund (IMF), Brazil has the 8th largest gross domestic product (GDP) in the world and has the 8th largest purchasing power parity in the world. In 2024, according to Forbes , Brazil
2574-480: The World Bank , Brazil's irrigation potential is about 29,000,000 hectares (110,000 sq mi). In 1998, however, drought reduced capacity to only 2.98 million hectares. At the end of the 20th century, the country primarily used surface irrigation (59%), followed by overhead (35%) and then targeted irrigation . The South represented the largest irrigated area (more than 1.1 million hectares), followed by
2673-487: The 1980s and a receptive Cardoso administration to the mobilizations of a number of agrarian civil groups. Loans written out to family farmers through PRONAF rose from US$ 1 billion in 2000 to an estimated US$ 5.8 billion in 2008. Other credit programs targeted at family farmers that came after PRONAF include PROGER and PROCERA. The country's colonization began with harvesting native plants where they grew. Cultivation followed much later. The exploitation of brazilwood , known to
2772-516: The 1990s family farms experienced productivity growth of 75%, compared to only 40% for larger-scale producers. The difference is largely due to the creation of PRONAF (National Program on Family Agriculture), which opened a special family farm credit line. Up to 2009 six Family Farming and Land Reform National Fairs were held, the first four in Brasília and the last two in Rio de Janeiro . They highlight
2871-727: The 1990s, due to globalization . The composition of stocks at the national level is the responsibility of the National Food Supply Company (Conab). Official definitions of a family farmer differ from country to country in Latin America . There are three general categories: subsistence farming, intermediate family farmers and consolidated farms. In Brazil, the Family Farming Law (Law 11,326) defines family farmers through four criteria related to land tenure , farm size, dependence on farm income, and
2970-509: The 2008–2009 harvest, for example, the Federation of Agriculture and Livestock of Goiás denounced poor road conditions in the Center-West region , despite repeated requests for federal assistance over several years. In 2006 the federal government issued a National Plan of Logistics and Transportation, meant to improve production flow. Lack of investment, however, continues to be the main obstacle to distribution logistics. A good example of
3069-585: The 3rd largest world producer of graphite (96 thousand tons); the 21st largest world producer of sulfur (500 thousand tons); the 9th largest world producer of salt (7.4 million tons); besides having had a chromium production of 200 thousand tons. Brazil has the second-largest manufacturing sector in the Americas. Accounting for 28.5 percent of GDP, Brazil's industries range from automobiles, steel and petrochemicals to computers, aircraft, and consumer durables . With increased economic stability provided by
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3168-463: The 5 largest producers in the world), manganese (one of the 5 largest producers in the world), tin (one of the largest producers in the world), niobium (concentrates 98% of reserves known to the world) and nickel . In terms of gemstones, Brazil is the world's largest producer of amethyst , topaz , agate and one of the main producers of tourmaline , emerald , aquamarine , garnet and opal . In 2019, Brazil's figures were as follows: it
3267-443: The 6th largest world producer of tin (14 thousand tons); the 8th largest world producer of nickel (60.6 thousand tons); the 8th largest world producer of phosphate (4.7 million tons); the 12th largest world producer of gold (90 tons); the 14th largest world producer of copper (360 thousand tons); the 14th largest world producer of titanium (25 thousand tons); the 13th largest world producer of gypsum (3 million tons);
3366-456: The 9th producer of steel in the world. In 2018, the chemical industry of Brazil was the 8th in the world. In textile industry , Brazil, although it was among the 5 largest world producers in 2013, is very little integrated in world trade. In the aviation sector, Brazil has Embraer , the third largest aircraft manufacturer in the world, behind Boeing and Airbus . Brazil has a diverse and sophisticated services industry as well. During
3465-666: The Americas, and Vale is the largest producer of iron ore in the world. Petrobras , the Brazilian oil and gas company, is the most valuable company in Latin America. When the Portuguese explorers arrived in the 16th century, the native tribes of current-day Brazil totaled about 2.5 million people and had lived virtually unchanged since the Stone Age . From Portugal's colonization of Brazil (1500–1822) until
3564-406: The Americas, particularly after the " mad cow disease " scare period. Brazil has the largest cattle herd in the world, with 198 million heads, responsible for exports of more than US$ 1 billion/year. A pioneer and leader in the manufacture of short-fiber timber cellulose , Brazil has also achieved positive results within the packaging sector, in which it is the fifth largest world producer. In
3663-568: The Caribbean 25.7 million. In 2017, 20 Brazilian companies were listed in the Forbes Global 2000 list – an annual ranking of the top 2000 public companies in the world by Forbes magazine based on a combination of sales, assets, profit, and market value. The 20 companies listed were: The Brazilian government has undertaken an ambitious program to reduce dependence on imported petroleum. Imports previously accounted for more than 70% of
3762-463: The Policy on Food Security and Nutrition (Decree 7.272). Food security refers to being able to meet dietary needs through an adequate, secure supply of nutritious food. The term rose into Brazilian popular consciousness in 1993 after campaigns by a national movement called Citizens' Action Against Hunger and Poverty and for Life. In that same period, Consea (National Food and Nutritional Security Council)
3861-513: The South American economy's industrial production. The country's scientific and technological development is argued to be attractive to foreign direct investment , in 2019, Brazil occupied the 4th largest destination for foreign investments, behind only the United States, China and Singapore. The agricultural sector, locally called the agronegócio (agro-business), has also been dynamic: for two decades this sector has kept Brazil among
3960-751: The Southeast (800 thousand hectares) and Northeast (490 thousand hectares). Currently, a regulatory milestone of irrigation is making its way through the National Congress of Brazil , through bill 6381/2005, which aims at replacing the Law 6662/1979, which regulates irrigation policy. Water resources policy is regulated by Law 9433/1997, and managed by the National Council. Crop storage facilities require expansion in order to keep up with increasing production. Brazilian storage capacity in 2003
4059-478: The air of the country is very healthful, fresh, and as temperate as that of Entre Douro e Minho, we have found the two climates alike at this season. There is great plenty, an infinitude of waters. The country is so well-favoured that if it were rightly cultivated it would yield everything, because of its waters. Brazilian Natives ("Indians") began farming some 12,000 years ago. They farmed cassava , peanuts, tobacco, sweet potatoes and maize, in addition to extracting
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4158-477: The average capacity factor in the Northeast Region is 45% in the coast and 49% in the interior. In 2019, wind energy represented 9% of the energy generated in the country. In 2019, it was estimated that the country had an estimated wind power generation potential of around 522 GW (this, only onshore), enough energy to meet three times the country's current demand. In 2021 Brazil was the 7th country in
4257-587: The botanic gardens in Singapore . Once established outside its native country, rubber was extensively propagated in the British colonies. Rubber trees were brought to the botanical gardens at Buitenzorg , Java, in 1883. By 1898, a rubber plantation had been established in Malaya , with imported Chinese field workers being the dominant work force in rubber production in the early 20th-century. The cultivation of
4356-422: The capital necessary to stay in rural areas and maintain production on a small scale. PRONAF was the first policy in 1994 to be created to meet the specific credit needs of family farmers. In order to stimulate agricultural production, the instrument provides incentives in the form of reduced-interest loans from national funds for rural development, targeting low-income farmers and agrarian reform farmers. Set against
4455-543: The city of Cruz das Almas . In 1883, in Pelotas , Rio Grande do Sul, a second school opened. The first school was officially recognized thirty-five years after its creation, with Decree 8.319/1910. The agronomist profession only came to be recognized in 1933. Seventy regular agronomy colleges operate in Brazil. The day the decree was publicized, 12 October, became the "Day of the Agronomist". Professional registration
4554-655: The company Taurus Armas . Embraer is one the world's top 100 defense contractors . The first study into the impact of the Creative Industries on the Brazilian economy was published by FIRJAN . The creative economy in Latin America was termed the " Orange Economy " in a publication released by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). This 2013 study valued Brazil's Orange Economy at US$ 66.87 billion providing 5,280,000 jobs and responsible for US$ 9.414 million in exports, with
4653-643: The construction of the Cadro dam which began in 1903. However, the practice broadened in the last thirty years of the 20th century between the years 1970 to 1980. Private initiative developed irrigation in the South and Southeast regions. In the Northeast official bodies, such as DNOCS and CODEVASF, led the way beginning in the 1950s. In 1968, the Executive Group on Irrigation and Agrarian Development (GEIDA)
4752-579: The country's diverse regions. The expansion of agricultural borders towards the Cerrado had begun, and of monocultural latifundia with production at a semi-industrial scale of soybeans, cotton and beans. Czech-Brazilian researcher Johanna Döbereiner helped lead Brazil's Green Revolution , winning her the UNESCO Science Prize for her work on nitrogen-fixing microorganisms. In 1960, four main agricultural products were exported, growing by
4851-516: The country's oil needs but Brazil became self-sufficient in oil in 2006–2007. Brazil was the 10th largest oil producer in the world in 2019, with 2.8 million barrels / day. Production manages to supply the country's demand. In the beginning of 2020, in the production of oil and natural gas , the country exceeded 4 million barrels of oil equivalent per day, for the first time. In January this year, 3.168 million barrels of oil per day and 138.753 million cubic meters of natural gas were extracted. Brazil
4950-418: The discovery of the vulcanization procedure in 1839 led to the rubber boom in that region, enriching the cities of Belém , Santarém , and Manaus in Brazil and Iquitos , Peru, from 1840 to 1913. In Brazil, before the name was changed to 'Seringueira' the initial name of the plant was 'pará rubber tree', derived from the name of the province of Grão-Pará . In Peru, the tree was called 'árbol del caucho', and
5049-452: The early 1990s to nineteen. Brazil also moved "downstream" to expand post-harvest processing. In the 1960s, unprocessed goods made up 84% of total exports, falling to 20% by 1990. Agricultural promotion policies included subsidized credits, bank debt write-offs and exports subsidies (in some cases, reaching 50% of the product value). Beginning with the 1994 creation of Plano Real for monetary stabilization, Brazilian agriculture went through
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#17327753158025148-683: The early 1990s, the banking sector accounted for as much as 16 percent of the GDP. Although undergoing a major overhaul, Brazil's financial services industry provides local businesses with a wide range of products and is attracting numerous new entrants, including U.S. financial firms. On 8 May 2008, the São Paulo Stock Exchange ( Bovespa ) and the São Paulo-based Brazilian Mercantile and Futures Exchange (BM&F) merged, creating BM&F Bovespa , one of
5247-452: The ease of doing so makes them an attractive nitrogen store - especially if the plant is light-deprived and storage in photosynthesis proteins would thus be unhelpful. The α-hydroxynitriles are likely contained in the cytoplasm . Linamarin is hydrolyzed by an accompanying linamarase , a β-glycosidase . Hevea brasiliensis linamarase does act upon linamarin because it is a monoglucoside , while it does not for linustatin because it
5346-439: The essence from other local plants such as the pequi and the babassu . Production was for food, straw or lumber . They cultivated local fruits such as jabuticaba , cashews , Spondias mombin and Goiabas . The Indians both influenced and were influenced by the Europeans who arrived in the fifteenth century. The Portuguese "nourished themselves with wood-flour, slaughtered the big game to eat, packed their nets and imitated
5445-429: The foreign markets, it answers for 25 percent of global exports of raw cane and refined sugar; it is the world leader in soybean exports and is responsible for 80 percent of the planet's orange juice , and since 2003, has had the highest sales figures for beef and chicken. In the mining sector, Brazil stands out in the extraction of iron ore (where it is the second world exporter), copper , gold , bauxite (one of
5544-418: The government is working towards guaranteeing infrastructure for the settlements, following the examples of schools and health outlets. The idea is that access to land represents just the first step towards the implementation of a quality land reform program. Over 600,000 km of land are divided into approximately five thousand areas of rural property ; an agricultural area currently with three borders:
5643-513: The importance of family farming to Brazilian economy, accounting for 70% of the country's food consumption and 10% of Brazilian GDP . International monitoring organizations assert that a third of Brazil's population is food insecure. Despite increased food production since the industrialization, a large proportion of Brazilians, especially the urban and rural poor, have difficulty meeting their nutrition needs. Small farmer, landless worker and indigenous movements that had consolidated during or after
5742-600: The interest of family farmers then emerged, where the family farmer is recognized as a pillar of national development. Since then, the MDA along with other institutions were created with the family farmers and other traditional communities' interests in mind, where policies targeting family farmers were designed to introduce market incentives, promote adequate food distribution and provide technical assistance. In general, family farms are establishments that employ mostly family members with up to five temporary workers. Family farms provide
5841-638: The largest stock exchanges in the world. Also, the previously monopolistic reinsurance sector is being opened up to third-party companies. As of 31 December 2007, there were an estimated 21,304,000 broadband lines in Brazil. Over 75 percent of the broadband lines were via DSL and 10 percent via cable modems. Proven mineral resources are extensive. Large iron and manganese reserves are important sources of industrial raw materials and export earnings. Deposits of nickel, tin, chromite, uranium, bauxite, beryllium, copper, lead, tungsten, zinc, gold, and other minerals are exploited. High-quality coking-grade coal required in
5940-551: The late 1930s, the Brazilian economy relied on the production of primary products for exports . In the Portuguese Empire , Brazil was a colony subjected to an imperial mercantile policy, which had three main large-scale economic production cycles – sugar, gold and from the early 19th century on, coffee. The economy of Brazil was heavily dependent on African slave labor until the late 19th century (about 3 million imported African slaves in total). In that period Brazil
6039-399: The latex extracted from it was called 'caucho'. The tree was used to obtain rubber by the natives who inhabited its geographical distribution. The Olmec people of Mesoamerica extracted and produced similar forms of primitive rubber from analogous latex-producing trees such as Castilla elastica as early as 3,600 years ago. The rubber was used, among other things, to make the balls used in
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#17327753158026138-691: The list of world tourist destinations, in 2018, Brazil was the 48th most visited country, with 6.6 million tourists (and revenues of 5.9 billion dollars). Tourism in South America as a whole is still underdeveloped: in Europe, for example, countries obtain annual tourism figures like $ 73.7 billion (Spain), receiving 82.7 million tourists or 67.3 billion (France), receiving 89.4 million tourists. While Europe received 710 million tourists in 2018, Asia 347 million and North America 142.2 million, South America received only 37 million, Central America 10.8 million and
6237-627: The load of the National Integrated System (SIN), being the main energy consuming region in the country. The region's installed electricity generation capacity totaled almost 42,500 MW, which represented about a third of Brazil's generation capacity. The hydroelectric generation represented 58% of the region's installed capacity, with the remaining 42% corresponding basically to the thermoelectric generation. São Paulo accounted for 40% of this capacity; Minas Gerais by about 25%; Rio de Janeiro by 13.3%; and Espírito Santo accounted for
6336-637: The main economic indicators in 1980–2023 (with IMF estimates for 2024–2028). Inflation below 5% is in green. (in bn. US$ PPP) (in US$ PPP) (in bn. US$ nominal) (in US$ nominal) (real) (in Percent) (in Percent) (in % of GDP) The service sector is the largest component of the gross domestic product (GDP) at 67.0 percent, followed by the industrial sector at 27.5 percent. Agriculture represents 5.5 percent of GDP (2011). The Brazilian labor force
6435-586: The majority of Brazilian staples, including 84% of manioc , 67% of beans and 49% of corn . Family farms also have a large role in the livestock and dairy industry, producing 58% of milk, 59% of pork, 50% of poultry and 31% of cattle. According to the IBGE 's 1995–96 Farming and Livestock Census, there were 4,339,859 family-run establishments in the country, the largest farm being 100 ha in area. In 2009, Brazil's Ministry of Agrarian Development (MDA) reported that 84.4% of all rural properties are in fact family farms. In
6534-437: The military dictatorship mobilized nationwide, pressuring the authorities to prioritize food and nutrition security rose in the 1980s, and were able to strongly shape the direction of developmental policy. The notion of access to food and proper nutrition was first recorded official terminology in 1986 as segurança alimentar ( food security ). The right to food and nutrition was established on 25 August 2010, when Brazil adopted
6633-619: The most highly productive countries in areas related to the rural sector. The agricultural sector and the mining sector also supported trade surpluses which allowed for massive currency gains (rebound) and external debt paydown. Due to a downturn in Western economies, Brazil found itself in 2010 trying to halt the appreciation of the real. Data from the Asian Development Bank and the Tax Justice Network show
6732-645: The national energy. Brazil's hydroelectric potential has not yet been fully exploited, so the country still has the capacity to build several renewable energy plants in its territory. As of July 2022, according to ONS, total installed capacity of wind power was 22 GW, with average capacity factor of 58%. While the world average wind production capacity factors is 24.7%, there are areas in Northern Brazil, specially in Bahia State, where some wind farms record with average capacity factors over 60%;
6831-472: The natives as ibirapitanga, and which ended up naming the land was begun by the Portuguese. Brazil operates forty-nine gathering reservations and sixty-five forests protected by federal law. The gathering of plant resources is encouraged as a means of interacting with, but not degrading, the environment. Economy of Brazil The economy of Brazil is historically the largest in Latin America and
6930-494: The need of regulatory stocks is in the production of ethanol as a fuel from sugar cane. The elevated price variation during the harvest year, that varies for climatic and plant health reasons, justifies the formation of stocks. Stocks also aim to stabilize farmers' revenues, and avoid price fluctuations between harvests. Until the 1980s, Brazil employed the Minimum Prices Policy. That policy had lost relevance by
7029-830: The rest. The South Region owns the Itaipu Dam , which was the largest hydroelectric plant in the world for several years, until the inauguration of Three Gorges Dam in China. It remains the second largest operating hydroelectric in the world. Brazil is the co-owner of the Itaipu Plant with Paraguay : the dam is located on the Paraná River , located on the border between countries. It has an installed generation capacity of 14 GW for 20 generating units of 700 MW each. North Region has large hydroelectric plants, such as Belo Monte Dam and Tucuruí Dam , which produce much of
7128-421: The results can be disastrous for production. One frost can cause the rubber from an entire plantation to become brittle and break once it has been refined. The rubber tree takes between seven and ten years to deliver the first harvest. Harvesters make incisions across the latex vessels, just deep enough to tap the vessels without harming the tree's growth, and the latex is collected in small buckets. This process
7227-433: The rough, free life", in the words of Pedro Calmon . Until other crops began to be exported, brazilwood was the main reason Portugal wanted control in Brazil. One practice of indigenous Brazilians was to clear land for cultivation by burning it. This provided arable land and ashes for use as fertilizer and soil cover. Scholars such as Monteiro Lobato considered this practice to be harmful. However, burning only became
7326-719: The rubber trees in Southeast Asia are clones of varieties highly susceptible to the South American leaf blight— Pseudocercospora ulei . For these reasons, environmental historian Charles C. Mann, in his 2011 book, 1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created , predicted that the Southeast Asian rubber plantations will be ravaged by the blight in the not-too-distant future, thus creating a potential calamity for international industry. Hevea brasiliensis produces cyanogenic glycosides (CGs) as
7425-469: The second biggest exporter of maize , pork , cotton , and ethanol . The country also has a significant presence as producer and exporter of rice , wheat , eggs , refined sugar , cocoa , beans , nuts , cassava , sisal fiber , and diverse fruits and vegetables. The success of agriculture during the Estado Novo (New State), with Getúlio Vargas , led to the expression, "Brazil, breadbasket of
7524-651: The space of fifty five years (1950 to 2005), the population of Brazil grew from 51 million to approximately 187 million inhabitants, an increase of over 2 percent per year. Brazil created and expanded a complex agribusiness sector. However, some of this is at the expense of the environment, including the Amazon . The importance given to the rural producer takes place in the shape of the agricultural and cattle-raising plan and through another specific subsidy program geared towards family agriculture Programa de Fortalecimento da Agricultura Familiar (Pronaf), which guarantees financing for equipment and cultivation and encourages
7623-408: The spurge family, Euphorbiaceae , originally native to the Amazon basin , but is now pantropical in distribution due to introductions . It is the most economically important member of the genus Hevea because the milky latex extracted from the tree is the primary source of natural rubber . Hevea brasiliensis is a tall deciduous tree growing to a height of up to 43 m (141 ft) in
7722-479: The steel industry is in short supply. In the last years, the defence industry in Brazil achieved prominence with exports of more than US$ 1 billion per year and sales abroad of high-technology products like the transport jet Embraer C-390 Millennium , the Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano , a light attack aircraft , the 6×6 armoured personnel carrier VBTP-MR Guarani and others armaments like pistols and rifles by
7821-603: The tree in South America (Amazon) ended early in the 20th century because of indigenous blights that targeted the rubber tree. The blight, called South American leaf blight, is caused by the ascomycete Pseudocercospora ulei , also called Microcyclus ulei , or Dothidella ulei , which is endemic to the Amazon Basin. The blight was considered one of the five most aggressive diseases in commercial crops in South America. Rubber production then moved to parts of
7920-424: The trees are generally smaller for two reasons: 1) trees grow more slowly when they are tapped for latex, and 2) trees are generally cut down after only 30 years, because latex production declines as trees age, and they are no longer economically productive. The tree requires a tropical or subtropical climate with a minimum of about 1,200 mm (50 in) per year of rainfall, and no frost. If frost does occur,
8019-449: The untaxed "shadow" economy of Brazil is 39% of GDP. One of the most important corruption cases in Brazil concerns the company Odebrecht . Since the 1980s, Odebrecht has spent several billion dollars in the form of bribes to bribe parliamentarians to vote in favour of the group. At the municipal level, Odebrecht's corruption was aimed at "stimulating privatisations", particularly in water and sewer management. The following table shows
8118-519: The use of new technology. With regards to family agriculture, over 800 thousand rural inhabitants are assisted by credit, research and extension programs. A special line of credit is available for women and young farmers. With The Land Reform Program, on the other hand, the country's objective is to provide suitable living and working conditions for families who live in areas allotted by the State, an initiative capable of generating jobs . Through partnerships, public policies and international partnerships,
8217-483: The use of predominantly family labor. In Brazil, the large majority of family farms are in the northeastern, southern and southeast Brazil. Family farmers in Brazil produce 21,4% of food consumed domestically. In 1999, the Ministry of Agrarian Development (MDA) was created to support family farmers and promote land reform and sustainable land development. A host of government policies and government-supported programs in
8316-860: The value of creative exports being higher than the US$ 8.016 million value of coffee exports over the same period. A 2021 study into the Intellectual Property Intensive Sectors in the Brazilian Economy was undertaken as part of the National Strategy on Intellectual Property 2021–2030. The study found that 450 of the 673 economic classes could be classified as IP-intensive sectors that collectively employed 19.3 million people. The share of GDP between 2014 and 2016 across these economic classes amounted to R$ 2.1 trillion reais or 44.2% of GDP over this time. In
8415-446: The wild. Cultivated trees are usually much smaller because drawing off the latex restricts their growth. The trunk is cylindrical and may have a swollen, bottle-shaped base. The bark is some shade of brown, and the inner bark oozes latex when damaged. The leaves have three leaflets and are spirally arranged. The inflorescences include separate male and female flowers. The flowers are pungent, creamy-yellow and have no petals. The fruit
8514-456: The world (16.8 TWh). In 2020, Brazil was also the 2nd largest country in the world in the production of energy through biomass (energy production from solid biofuels and renewable waste), with 15,2 GW installed. Rubber tree Hevea brasiliensis , the Pará rubber tree , sharinga tree, seringueira , or most commonly, rubber tree or rubber plant , is a flowering plant belonging to
8613-423: The world in terms of installed wind power (21 GW), and the 4th largest producer of wind energy in the world (72 TWh), behind only China, USA and Germany. Nuclear energy accounts for about 4% of Brazil's electricity. The nuclear power generation monopoly is owned by Eletronuclear (Eletrobrás Eletronuclear S/A) , a wholly owned subsidiary of Eletrobrás . Nuclear energy is produced by two reactors at Angra . It
8712-548: The world where it is not indigenous, and therefore not affected by local plant diseases. Today, most rubber tree plantations are in South and Southeast Asia , the top rubber producing countries in 2011 being Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, India and Vietnam. The toxicity of arsenic to insects , bacteria , and fungi has led to the heavy use of arsenic trioxide on rubber plantations, especially in Malaysia . The majority of
8811-1006: The world". The southern one-half to two-thirds of Brazil has a semi-temperate climate, higher rainfall, more fertile soil, more advanced technology and input use, adequate infrastructure and more experienced farmers. This region produces most of Brazil's grains, oilseeds , and agriculture exports. The drought-ridden northeast region and Amazon basin lack well-distributed rainfall, good soil, adequate infrastructure and development capital. Although mostly occupied by subsistence farmers, both regions are increasingly important as exporters of forest products, cocoa and tropical fruits . Central Brazil contains substantial areas of grassland . Brazilian grasslands are far less fertile than those of North America, and are generally suited only for grazing. Extreme weather events like drought, linked with deforestation and climate change, increasingly impact Brazilian agriculture. In 2018, Brazil: In addition to smaller productions of other agricultural products. However,
8910-430: Was 21 GW, with average capacity factor of 23%. Some of the most irradiated Brazilian States are MG ("Minas Gerais"), BA ("Bahia") and GO (Goiás), which have indeed world irradiation level records. In 2019, solar power represented 1,27% of the energy generated in the country. In 2021, Brazil was the 14th country in the world in terms of installed solar power (13 GW), and the 11th largest producer of solar energy in
9009-648: Was 75% of grain production, well short of the ideal of 120%. Farm-based crop storage (e.g., using silos ) is not common in Brazil. Lack of storage forces produce to be commercialized quickly. According to Conab data, only 11% of warehouses are located on farms (by comparison Argentina has 40%, the European Union has 50% and Canada has 80%). Farmers rely on third party storage services. Lack of access to capital, exacerbated by financial instability from factors such as exchange rate volatility, prevents most producers from building significant storage. Crop transport
9108-418: Was also the colony with the largest number of European settlers, most of them Portuguese (including Azoreans and Madeirans) but also some Dutch (see Dutch Brazil ), Spaniards, English, French, Germans, Flemish, Danish, Scottish and Sephardic Jews . Subsequently, Brazil experienced a period of strong economic and demographic growth accompanied by mass immigration from Europe, mainly from Portugal (including
9207-399: Was beneficial for the region, not only because of the skills and knowledge they brought to the country themselves, but also because of spillover effects of their human capital to the native Brazilian population. Human capital spillover effects were strongest in regions with the highest numbers of immigrants, and the positive effects are still observable today, in some regions. In 2007, with
9306-543: Was established. the 1st National Conference on Food Security was organized by a combination of policy and grassroots mobilizations. Consea ran from 1993 to 1994, with little success in shaping public policies, was halted until after the establishment of the Fome Zero Program. The 2010 Policy names Consea as an instrument in proposing programs that promote food security on a federal level. Due to financial limitations, small farmers generally have difficulties securing
9405-418: Was forbidden—with the goal of maintaining a minimum profitable price. Rubber suffered from foreign competition. In 1870, English smugglers smuggled rubber tree seedlings out of Brazil and in 1895 began production in Asia. In the 1910s and 1920s this competition practically eliminated Brazilian production. In 1887 during the Empire era, the first school dedicated to the training of agronomists opened in
9504-578: Was set up, and two years later it instituted the Multi-annual Program of Irrigation (PPI). The majority of resources were directed to the Northeast. These federal initiatives, however, did not achieve success. In 1985 a new guidance and in 1996 a new direction produced the New Model of Irrigation Project. The Project intended to broaden the use of irrigation in agriculture and drew on more than 1,500 national and foreign experts. According to
9603-426: Was the 7th largest country in the world by number of billionaires. Brazil is one of the ten chief industrial states in the world according to International Labour Organization . According to International Monetary Fund (IMF), Brazilian nominal GDP was US$ 2.331 trillion, the country has a long history of being among the largest economies in the world and the GDP per capita was US$ 11,178 per inhabitant. The country
9702-409: Was the world's largest exporter of chicken meat . It was also the second largest producer of beef , the world's third largest producer of milk , the world's fourth largest producer of pork and the seventh largest producer of eggs in the world. Agribusiness contributes to Brazil's trade balance , in spite of trade barriers and subsidizing policies adopted by the developed countries. In
9801-457: Was the world's largest producer of niobium (88.9 thousand tons); the 2nd largest world producer of tantalum (430 tons); the 2nd largest world producer of iron ore (405 million tons); the 4th largest world producer of manganese (1.74 million tons); the 4th largest world producer of bauxite (34 million tons); the 4th largest world producer of vanadium (5.94 thousand tons); the 5th largest world producer of lithium (2.4 thousand tons);
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