Coalition advocates soil as foundation for sustainable future

The way soil is managed has a direct impact on climate regulation, water security, the maintenance of agricultural productivity, and carbon capture and storage. The celebration of National Soil Conservation Day on April 15 highlights how strategic the debate on soil health is in the country — especially at a time when Brazil is preparing to host the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 30).

The federal government intends to present ambitious goals, such as a 67% reduction in CO₂ emissions by 2035, and to highlight the progress of the Climate Plan, the main instrument for guiding actions to mitigate and adapt to climate change. In this context, soil health gains prominence by connecting strategic agendas such as food security and the promotion of low-carbon agriculture.

“Making more efficient use of already consolidated areas is essential for Brazil to continue increasing its agricultural production without having to open up new areas. Soil conservation is a pillar for ensuring a sustainable future for agriculture and society,” says Fernando Sampaio, co-facilitator of the Brazil Climate, Forests and Agriculture Coalition, a movement that brings together more than 400 companies and organizations from the private sector, academia and civil society.

In recent years, Brazil has developed and advanced techniques for soil recovery and conservation, but there is still much to be done: of all the land occupied by agriculture in the country, 60% is dedicated to pastures. Of these, according to the Pasture Laboratory of the Federal University of Goiás, 60% (or 107 million) hectares are in some stage of degradation. In light of this scenario, the federal government recently launched the National Program for the Conversion of Degraded Pastures into Sustainable Agricultural and Forestry Production Systems (PNCPD), which aims to recover and convert up to 40 million hectares of low-productivity pastures into arable land in ten years. This goal means doubling the area of ​​food production in Brazil without deforestation. 

“Regenerative agriculture not only preserves the soil and its biodiversity, but also reduces emissions and increases productivity. It is a clear win-win situation for rural producers. Transitioning our production to regenerative agriculture is essential for our future. This process is already underway, but it can be accelerated with incentive policies and investments that consider the impact of this transition in a positive way,” adds Sampaio, who is also the Director of Sustainability at the Brazilian Association of Meat Exporting Industries (Abiec).

Conservation strategies

Learn about strategies advocated by the Brazil Coalition that promote soil conservation and regeneration in the countryside:

1. Direct planting and crop rotation: These practices reduce soil exposure, improve its structure and increase water and nutrient retention. In addition, they reduce dependence on chemical inputs and contribute to carbon sequestration in the soil.
2. Integrated systems, such as agroforestry and Crop-Livestock-Forestry (ICLF): The integration between crops, livestock and forestry improves productivity, protects the soil against degradation and diversifies income in the countryside.
3. Payment for environmental services (PES): This is a way of recognizing and financially rewarding producers who adopt practices that conserve soil, protect springs and maintain native vegetation.
4. Improvement of programs for low-carbon agriculture: The expansion and updating of programs for the decarbonization of agriculture involve continuous technical training and the reinforcement of rural technical assistance.
5. Strengthen financial mechanisms to encourage sustainable practices: Programs such as the Safra Plan need to be improved, linking access to credit to socio-environmental criteria. This makes investing in sustainable practices more advantageous.