Brazil's agribusiness posted an accumulated growth rate of 2.81% in the first quarter this year, as against 0.74% in the same period of 2007. The contribution of the agriculture and livestock sector to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased 4.35% during the quarter, as against 1.49% during the first three months last year.
Agribusiness exports totaled US$ 27.2 billion from January to May, the equivalent to 37.8% of total exports from Brazil.
The figures were disclosed by the National Confederation of Agriculture and Livestock (CNA). Among the factors that drove growth, the organization cited the record-high crop and the increase in agricultural prices, which resumed the growth rate recorded prior to the income crisis that took place during the 2004/05 and 2005/06 crops.
Syngenta Gets Approval
Brazil's National Biosafety Committee (CNBS) has ratified a decision authorizing sales of corn containing Syngenta's Bt11 trait for Fall Armyworm and Sugarcane Borer control, according to information released by Switzerland-based agribusiness multinational Syngenta.
Davor Pisk, Chief Operating Officer of Syngenta Seeds, said: "We are very pleased to have obtained this approval which will enable us to play a leading role in the introduction of new corn technology in Brazil. The launch of Bt11 corn this year will expand Syngenta's broad-based offer encompassing seeds, traits, seed care and crop protection and will enhance the competitiveness of Brazilian growers."
Syngenta's Bt11 is already approved for cultivation in several countries including Argentina, Canada, Philippines, United States and South Africa, and has import approval for the European Union.
Desertification
Desertification threatens from 30% to 40% of fertile lands worldwide. The information was published in the Website of the United Nations in Brazil (UN-Brazil). June 17, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (Unccd) celebrated the "World Day to Combat Desertification."
According to the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), sustainable agriculture is the key for combating the spread of desert lands. This year, the theme of the desertification day was Combating Land Degradation for Sustainable Agriculture. The Day aims to attract attention to the importance of land management as a means for supporting agriculture.
In a message issued on the occasion of the Day, the secretary general at the Unccd, Luc Gnacadja, stated that science and technology play an important role in the fight against degradation of lands and the creation of sustainable agriculture.
