Brazilian agribusiness is not unanimous, but it shares some common goals. Academics who spoke with Brasil de Fato analyzed the sector and explained the differences and similarities opposing two large agribusiness blocs of the country. Differences exist, but objectives as grabbing land from indigenous areas and the continuous regularization of illegal occupations in the Amazon are shared interests.
The difference is that some sectors, such as Brazilian Agribusiness Association (ABAG, in the acronym in Portuguese), tries to connect agriculture with sustainability, when other organizations, like the Brazilian Association of Soy Producers (Aprosoja, in the acronym in Portuguese), even funded the anti-democratic and pro-government acts of September 7th.
"Aprosoja has been advocating agendas that deepen deforestation in the Amazon. More recently, they spoke up for the "timeframe" argument and for the armament of rural people, which has even become a slogan. These are topics that ABAG avoids. ABAG is an important representative of transnational and stateless financial capital. For sure, ABAG will align with the international market discourse on sustainability, although we know that agribusiness can be sustainable under no circumstances", says Frederico Daia Firmiano, Professor at the Federal University of Minas Gerais.
Read more: Indigenous extermination: understand the consequences of the "timeframe limitation" lawsuit
Also on this week’s program: according to the NGO Global Witness, Brazil is the fourth country in the world that kills the most environmentalists
On the culture segment, the 50th anniversary of one of the most important albums in Brazilian music: Construção. The singer and composer Chico Buarque built a album with a strong connection between form and content.
All What's Happening in Brazil episodes are available at Brasil de Fato's YouTube channel, where you'll also find a special English-content playlist. Partners who wish to include a longer version of the show in their schedule may contact our international team at [email protected].
For more news about Brazil and our region, visit our website.
Edited by: Arturo Hartmann
