Esalq is part of a global project to identify areas with the greatest production potential in the field

Provide a database to identify regions of the planet with the greatest potential for agricultural investment, ensuring food security for future generations. This is the objective of Global Yield Gap and Water Productivity Atlas (GYGA) http://www.yieldgap.org/, a global initiative that involves researchers from several institutions. From now on, centers of excellence such as the Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (Esalq/USP) are part of this network that seeks to quantify agricultural efficiency, identify its causes and suggest interventions to increase it.

The GYGA methodology provides an atlas with robust estimates of untapped crop production potential on existing farmland, based on current climate and available soil and water resources. “Brazil has a comparative advantage for the planet’s food security due to the availability of water resources and arable land. However, the rate of increase in Brazilian agricultural productivity is relatively low, which has kept average productivity levels well below the levels observed in experimental fields”, comments Fábio Marin, professor in the Biosystems Engineering department at Esalq/USP, coordinator project location.

On July 23rd, part of the scientific community working on the project will be in Piracicaba (SP) for the first meeting in the country in order to discuss the use of the GYGA methodology, as well as evaluate and present ongoing initiatives. 

“The general objective of the project is to quantify the potential for increasing Brazilian production and identify the means to realize this potential through sustainable agricultural intensification. The project will have national coverage and will address the main sectors of Brazilian agribusiness, such as soybeans, corn, rice, cattle and sugar cane”, he adds.

According to Marin, the project will have the support of researchers from different institutions to ensure national coverage with high technical quality. “In Brazil, the project is led by Esalq, but has the involvement of 3 other institutions, Embrapa, the Federal University of Santa Maria and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, which will work together to carry out experimental activities and propose actions necessary to increase Brazilian agricultural efficiency”. 

At Esalq/USP the meeting takes place between 8:30 am and 12:10 pm, in the Congregation Room, located in the institution's Central Building. Register for free at http://fealq.org.br/informacoes-do-evento/?id=708 .

Programme

8.30-8.40          Opening

8.40-9.40         GYGA methodology: overview and examples

                        Prof. Patricio Grassini – university of nebraska -Lincoln

9: 40-10.25       Potential for sustainable intensification of rice in Southern Brazil

                        Prof. Alencar Zanon – Federal University of Santa Maria

10: 25-10.55      The challenge for quantifying the animal production gap in Brazil

                        Dr. Patricia M Santos – Embrapa Pecuária Sudestte

10.55-11.25      Brazilian Yield Gap Atlas Project

                        Prof. Fábio Marin – Esalq/USP

11:25-12:10      debate and closing