Synergies of low-carbon technologies and land-sparing in Brazilian regions

The Low-carbon Agriculture Plan in Brazil (ABC Plan) tries to conciliate sustainable growth of agricultural production and minimize the environmental impacts promoted by land-use changes. The agriculture, florest and other land uses (AFOLU) sector is the main source of GHG emissions reaching in 2015 67% (1,310 Mt CO2eq) of total emissions. The implementation of pasture recovery and integrated systems technologies are therefore seen as a promising strategy for sustainable agricultural intensification, since they can increase the organic matter in the soil, sequester carbon, as well as increase the production per hectare. This article analysis the relationship between these technologies and the land-sparing concept. Under ABC Plan's economic concepts the outcomes suggest the interaction of both technologies promotes land-sparing effect in the country as a whole. There is an increase of natural and forest areas, specially those inside the private rural establishments. However, the regional results show a different dynamic in the agricultural frontier. These regions intensify the pasture use to the detriment of native vegetation and forest areas. Acknowledgement