Meeting Report | Sustainable Agriculture: Session 3 of the Brazil-US Dialogue on Sustainability and Climate Change
In October 2021, the Wilson Center, in partnership with Uma Concertação Pela Amazônia hosted a discussion with Brazilian and US nongovernmental stakeholders on how to bring resources at scale to promote inclusive and effective sustainable food systems in the Amazon region. The results achieved so far are insufficient to enable the transition from current models to sustainable systems that promote the improvement of income and quality of life of family producers and traditional populations of the Amazon.
Over the course of the session, three major policy recommendations emerged as critical to bolstering bilateral Brazil-US cooperation in strengthening food systems and sustainable practices in the Amazon.
Report Recommendations
1. International investors and policymakers need to approach sustainable agriculture and food systems as part of an integrated solution for forest management that prioritizes delivering scalable and inclusive economic alternatives.
Despite its abundance of natural resources, the Amazon sub-region ranks at the bottom of global and national human development indexes , and long-term reductions in deforestation rates depend in no small measure on improving socio-economic baselines.
2. Local technical and managerial capacity-building to support the implementation of more sustainable and innovative agricultural, cattle raising, and forestry practices is critical.
Key areas of focus must include education, technical training programs, extension services, and participatory research, as well as programs to facilitate information-sharing among farmers. There is significant potential for the strengthening and amplifying of the Brazil-U.S. cooperation in this area, including cooperation between the Brazilian public agricultural research corporation Embrapa, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB), and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD).
3. Funders and policymakers need to address the limited funding streams available to small-scale entrepreneurs and farmers to change behaviors, including the simplification and facilitation of the access to rural credit and small business loans.
Potential reform of Brazil’s rural credit program could become a channel for attracting private capital to finance sustainable agricultural practices, particularly if leading Brazilian financial institutions help coordinate capital flow and assist with small-scale lending risk mitigation.
Relatório da Reunião (Português)
RELATÓRIO DA REUNIÃO | AGRICULTURA SUSTENTÁVEL Ao longo da sessão, três recomendações de políticas críticas surgiram para apoiar a cooperação bilateral entre o Brasil e os EUA no fortalecimento de sistemas alimentares e práticas sustentáveis na Amazônia.
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The Brazil Institute—the only country-specific policy institution focused on Brazil in Washington—aims to deepen understanding of Brazil’s complex landscape and strengthen relations between Brazilian and U.S. institutions across all sectors. Our mission is to provide thoughtful leadership and innovative ideas to help democracies evolve and enhance their capacity to deliver results. We achieve this by producing independent research and programs that bridge the gap between scholarship and policy, while serving as a hub for policymakers, scholars, and private sector leaders. Read more
