Three myths, three uncomfortable truths about brazilian agribusiness

Abstract

“Hunger is resolved with a strong agriculture" is one of the slogans adopted by the leading representation of agribusiness in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. To a large extent, this motto has been employed since 2016 in a publicity campaign led by Brazil's primary television network. Paradoxically, according to data from the FAO (United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization), 61 million Brazilians faced difficulties in accessing food between 2019 and 2021, with 15 million experiencing hunger. This study focuses on unveiling the contradictions underlying the laudatory discourse of the virtues of Brazilian agribusiness. Hunger and overproduction of commodities constitute two sides of the same coin. Three myths and three uncomfortable truths loom over Brazilian agriculture, whose current dynamics appear incompatible with the imperatives of sustainable development. The first myth is that agriculture is Brazil's wealth; the second myth is that this sector stands out in job creation and workforce engagement, while the third myth is that this country would be the world's granary.