Brazilian Minister Denies Conflict Between Agribusiness and Environmental Preservation

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The statement occurred on Thursday, October 10th, at the Brazil 2019 Investment Forum in São Paulo.

“Brazil is an agribusiness power, but it is also an environmental power. Despite the fact that this is currently highly questioned. In order to continue increasing national production and minimizing impacts on the environment, the Brazilian government and the private sector need to continue working together,” said the minister.

For Tereza Cristina, large rural producers are aware that the sustainability of their production affects the acceptance of their products in foreign markets, and that they are under the influence of climate change.

“Agriculture is one of the sectors most affected by climate change effects, higher average temperatures, changes in rainfall, increased frequency and intensity of climate events as well as the potential for increased damages caused by pests and diseases that could strongly affect the work in the field,” she added.

Tereza Cristina said that in 2018 Brazil’s agricultural production totaled US$147.4 billion and that it is expected to continue growing.

“Projections point to a 27 percent increase in Brazilian grain production over the next ten years, while beef is expected to grow by 19 percent, pork by 25 percent and chicken by 28 percent. Part of this production will be directed to foreign markets, contributing to ensuring global food and nutritional security,” she said.

Minister Tereza Cristina commented on Argentina’s inclusion in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) by the United States. According to her, the government has known this since January, when they were in the United States.

“We already knew that, that Argentina had the documentation in place sooner than Brazil. This was made clear to us, that they would be first and then the United States would appoint Brazil and Europe would appoint another country. But that has nothing to do with Brazil being sidelined. No, it was a time line and it was agreed upon from back then”, she said.

Earlier, Bloomberg news agency had reported that the US government, through Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, had rejected a request to discuss the increase in OECD membership, a group that comprises 36 countries, most of them from Europe and North America.

According to the news agency, the information was included in a letter sent by Pompeo to OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurria. In the document, the US confirms its formal endorsement of Argentina’s and Romania’s accession to the group.

Source: Agência Brasil

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