Category: South America

BACKGROUND AND DEVELOPMENTS
The global production of soy has risen sharply in the past few decades. In 2013, a new record for soybean cultivation was reached with 276 million tons. Around half of this amount is produced in South America. Brazil (27% of world production) and Argentina (17%) take top positions.

The soybean acreage in Argentina grew by an average of four percent per year between 2003 and 2013. During the same period, the area under wheat cultivation decreased by six percent per year. This is an indication that soy cultivation is gaining in importance at the expense of cereal cultivation.

The developments described are also reflected in the map: To the east of La Aloja are cleared areas. There, the region’s natural dry forest is being cleared to create new cultivation areas. This goes hand in hand with the displacement of traditional extensive goat farming.

The background to the global increase in soy production is primarily the demand for feed in industrial agriculture in the USA and the EU. Around 80 percent of soy production in South America is used for this purpose and is exported. For more information about the continent of South America, please check computerannals.com.