Is it possible for agribusiness to be sustainable and do not harm the environment?

Agribusiness is undoubtedly one of the engines of the Brazilian economy. However, in recent years, the growth in the activities of the field has been detached from the preservation of the environment. It happens that it is possible to grow and help the economy, without disregarding environmental preservation. Through political commitment and good management associated with good environmental practices, it is possible to develop in a way that protects natural resources. As an example, we can mention the city of Paragominas, in Pará, which featured the list of most devastating cities in the environment, but with the adoption of good planning, today, it shows that an economy based on the conservation of natural resources is possible. It was a gradual process that started from the bottom up. First, it was shown to farmers that preservation can also make a profit. Thus, Paragominas began to monitor devastating activities and also to value environmental services offered by forests. This city started to inspire other places and show that a transformation in agribusiness is possible. In that place, the idea that long-term deforestation generates suffocation in the economy itself was fostered. In this same perspective, Mato Grosso has been on its way. As the largest Brazilian state producing soybeans, cotton, corn, and owner of the largest cattle herd, the question arose: is it possible to be a great producer and at the same time take care of the environment? According to Senator Carlos Fávaro (PSD-MT), it is possible to reconcile agribusiness with sustainable development, as long as there is a synchronization of actions and ideas. All will have to be focused on the same goal, which is economic growth supported by the sustainable development bias. It also highlights the reduction in deforestation at a rate of 90% compared to 2004 levels, in the state of Mato Grosso. This state, in order to fulfill its intent, even created the “State Committee for the PCI Strategy: Produce, Preserve and Include” or “PCI” which aims to verify the achievement of the goals set for the level of deforestation rates. Through this Committee, it will be possible to raise funds, regardless of political issues, in order to implement the environmental programs and projects necessary for sustainability.

What is sustainability?

When it comes to sustainability, it is related to the principle that seeks a balance between natural resources and their exploitation by human action. In other words, it aims to balance the environment and what it can support with regard to human action. The term sustainability is constitutionally supported, as the Federal Constitution itself ensures the preservation of the environment for both present and future generations. In this way, sustainability seeks to unite the use of natural resources by proposing alternatives that facilitate its conscious use. It takes into account, above all, the guarantee of the environment for future generations. On the other hand, sustainability is closely linked to the concept of sustainable development, due to the fact that society is aware that natural resources are finite and needs are infinite. With the support of science, the need for sustainable development and sustainability was highlighted.

But how to combine agribusiness with sustainability?

Focusing on environmental preservation policies is the main strategy to maintain business longevity. In addition, it is a way to gain space in competitive and demanding markets, which focus on the demand for environmentally friendly products. To this end, several farmers are already aware that the future of their businesses is directly related to the preservation attitudes adopted in the present. Some actions that are already being adopted:

• Improved land use;
• Conscious consumption of water use;
• Reuse of natural resources;
• Correct destination for pesticide packaging;
• Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, among others.

Another measure that can contribute is technological modernization, as it reduces costs and impacts on the environment. With the adoption of these measures, it can promote sustainable development and, therefore, environmental preservation.

What is sustainable development?

The most correct concept of sustainable development is that which infers development that meets current needs without causing harm to future needs. In other words, it is a way of using present resources without exhausting future resources. This is what you understand and was defined in the World Commission on Environment and Development, created by the United Nations. This Commission was proposed with the objective of reconciling economic development and environmental preservation. Therefore, the first action in order to achieve sustainable development is to recognize that natural resources are finite and must be preserved for future generations. This new way of thinking meets a new idea of economic development combined with the preservation of the environment. Sometimes growth in agribusiness is confused with development. All of this based on that erroneous idea that in order to grow larger, it is necessary to consume more and more the inputs of nature. However, this type of unsustainable development leads to resource depletion and a breakdown of the economy. Sustainable development is based on quality, rather than quantity. Priority is given to reducing the use of raw materials and increasing methods of reuse and recycling. Furthermore, economic development can be fundamental for peripheral countries. But this development cannot take place along the lines of countries that are already industrialized. According to some studies, if countries in the Southern Hemisphere following the standards of the Northern Hemisphere, the use of fossil fuels would increase by 10 times, and the use of mineral resources by 200 times. Therefore, instead of thinking about increasing consumption levels in underdeveloped countries, it is essential to think about reducing consumption in industrialized countries. Therefore, it is possible for agribusiness to be sustainable and not to harm the environment, as long as good planning is adopted and keep in mind that natural resources have limits. In this perspective, sustainable development cannot be confused with economic growth, as this is often based on the immoderate use of energy and environmental inputs.