Soya in the Amazon

UK could cut Amazon soy imports with home-grown peas and beans

Ecologist

21st July, 2010
A solution to the livestock sector's reliance on soy animal feed, which is driving deforestation in Argentina and Brazil, could be found by incentivising home-grown alternatives

The UK could cut its dependency on imported soy in half by encouraging farmers to switch to home-grown alternative protein crops like oilseed rape meal, lupin, sunflower, linseed, beans and peas.

More than one million tonnes of soy is imported every year to feed animals in the pig, poultry and dairy sectors with 98 per cent of this coming from South America - where studies have linked the expanding number of soy plantations to deforestation in the Amazon rainforest - as well as the grassland regions of the Brazilian Cerrado, the Atlantic forest and the Chacos region.

However, an analysis by the Royal Agricultural College (RAC), commissioned by Friends of the Earth, estimated that replacing 50 per cent of imported soy with home-grown alternatives would be 'relatively straightforward' and require around 8 per cent of the currently available arable land.

Grass-fed alternatives

The RAC says extensive livestock systems used to rear cows and sheep could easily switch to higher proportions of forage and silage feed. It may be harder, says the RAC, to cut out soy imports in the intensive chicken and pig sectors but that a 'major reduction' was achievable by mixing soy with UK-grown alternatives, high in protein, such as field beans and peas.

In interviews with the feed industry and farming sector, the RAC found that the main obstacles were the lack of incentives to grow alternative crops and the relatively low price of imported soy. Advice to farmers on growing or mixing alternative feeds was also poor, while feed suppliers said a variety of feed crops would complicate the supply chain, since additional storage would be required for a mix of crops.

Soy-free labelling

Friends of the Earth said funds from the Common Agricultural Programme (CAP) should be used to incentivise farmers to grow alternative protein crops and reduce the growing dependence on imports. It also urged retailers to publicise and label soy-free meat and dairy produce to consumers.

'Many people choose British milk and meat without realising that the animals in our farms munch on feed produced by destroying wildlife and rainforests in South America.

'Animals should be born, bred and fed British – but pressure from supermarkets and biased EU subsidies force farmers to rely on damaging imports,' said senior food campaigner Sandra Bell.

Europe's demand for cheap meat is been fed by an increasing demand for soya feed from the Amazon but it comes at a cost - deforestation Rainfore

Europe's demand for cheap meat is been fed by an increasing demand for soya feed from the Amazon but it comes at a cost - deforestation

Rainforest around Santarém has been replaced with fields over the last five years thanks to the advent of soya farming in the area.

Huge multinational Cargill built a port on the Amazon at Santarém to export soya to Europe where the grains are converted into feed for chickens and other farm animals.

Cargill presents an insatiable demand so farmers from soya growing areas like Matto Grosso moved to Santarém to be nearer the port taking advantage of reduced transport costs. This influx of outsiders had lead to conflict with local people.

Farmer Luis Pereira Machado, 61, sells all his crop to Cargill, usually before it is harvested. He said: 'The more you have the more they want.' He moved to the area from Matto Grosso but does not feel welcome near Santarém.

Deforestation

Aside from cultural conflicts, there are many environmental problems associated with soya farming. Environmentalists are furious because of the deforestation caused by soya farming. They claim pesticides and fertilisers from soya farms damage the ecosystems of creeks and rivers.

They also argue that the wakes from big ships damage the riverbanks.


Others complain about the lack of employment for local people. Soya farming is largely mechanised and Cargill’s port only employs 60 people because nothing is processed in Santarém, soya is just stored and then exported.

There are also concerns, well documented by Greenpeace in a report called Eating Up The Amazon, that soya farmers acquired land in illegal or irregular ways and in some cases use slave labour for clearing the forest. According to Greenpeace, it is these illegal activities that subsidise the price of meat in Europe.

Future expansion

The problems of soya farming in the Amazon look set to increase. Most of the soya that Cargill exports through Santarém is brought in trucks along the Br163 from Matto Grosso. This road is in the process of being paved which environmentalists say will lead to more deforestation along its length and more soya farmers moving to the area.

Amazonian ecologist Gil Serique said: 'It seems to be very easy to make money selling soya beans to Cargill. I am sure there is going to be an explosion of soya around Santarém.'

Atlantic Rising now in Colombia

Pix:Lynn, Will's right foot and my Hoatzin logo

From http://www.richardbahia.blogspot.com/

When I’m forlorn, melancholy or generally baffled at what life throws at us, the best remedy for me is to go to the beach. Amidst the swirls of humanity there to enjoy the surf and sun, you can immerse yourself into a world where all senses are piqued. This causes a degree of recuperation to the soul, slightly diminished on the ride home where egregious driving by drunk beach revelers reminds us of how reckless people cause such disharmony in society.

But let’s stay on the positive. Fortunately for me, a beautiful beach is ten minutes from my house. Last Saturday, we parked in a lot that advertized a five real fee. A team of people instruct you on how to park your car efficiently to cram as many cars as they can into this space. This is classic informal economy stuff, nobody is paying any taxes there. But if you chose to not pay the fee, there is nothing the people running the lot can do about it.



Me and Richard Bahia Hartley
We have a spot where the wait staff know us. Our main waiter, a large square man with an operatic voice and charm which he uses to make sure you tip him well, was not there.

“His knee was bad, plus the owner here refuses to pay us our tips. I am going to be moving on after the season is over; it’s impossible to live on what he pays us.”

This is partly what makes Brazil such an unequal society, this tendency to exploit to the maximum, the incapacity for long term thought in things that involve profit. The idea that having happy workers matters is irrelevant when there is a teaming pool of desperate poor ready to work under miserable conditions to replace any discontents. Squeeze as much money as you can and keep another people in thrall while doing it, capitalism in its basest form.

I must admit I spent rather less time than I should have considering these terrible issues of human exploitation, instead revering the magnificence in front of me. The aquiline water, intersected by cauldrons of white created by the waves, invited compellingly.

Our waitress finished digging a hole in which to place a large sun umbrella to protect us from the scorching sun. Pedro gave us about ten seconds to sit down and relax before wanting to jump into the ocean. There we went. Pedro, now six, has lost fear of the ocean and knows how to avoid the punches it throws at you and take advantage of its blessings in the form of waves and relief from the heat. He simply loves it now and will spend all day there if you let him.

Pedro aged 10 now








2 read to the end go http://www.richardbahia.blogspot.com/

Near Death Experience

My only near death experience was on a boat, a tiny little jolly boat. It happened when a friend from New York and I went to visit Canela Island on the coast of Belem, near the mouth of the Amazon River.

I had thrilled at Canela Island before with the arrival of some 10.000 Scarlet Ibises that nest and shelter there and I was excited to contemplate it again.

The original plan was to do the 50 miles of open sea in two and a half hours, observe the spectacular avifauna, photograph and only return to Belem on the next day.

Limited options made us choose B/M Garoto(boy) a miniscule fishing boat with a crew formed by three young married men.
We got on board and left; we had loaded her with some packs of biscuits, water and wherever you can find in a small village that you can still feel alone as a tourist.

I can't remember any incident that may have taken place between the moment we set sail and the arrival at Canela.
The bird show had been spectacular with big flocks of Scarlet Ibis flying over head dropping the curtain.

Before setting camp we did not disagree much about the value of a cold beer in a nice bar and other pirate things and Bill decided to ask:
-Do you think we can return to Belem in time?
-I was born one thousand kilometers from the Atlantic where tides have no meaning, let me check with the crew.

I said to Bill leaving the decision in the other six hands that answered positive without showing any sign of hesitation.

Soon after we started heading back to the coast B/M Garoto's propeller had been lost; a huge storm was forming and we learnt that her anchor literally floated on the scary waves.

This time was God's time to decide and He had not much time to ponder.
Holding tight and working on my balance I spit my last joke.




-Bill, changing plans again! We are not going to a bar, we gonna fucking die!
He agreed without smiling and I noticed one member of our crew crying in despair while assisting his other friend severely vomiting of seasickness.

Without much to do on the helm, the captain was at working on the water pump like he was punching his worst enemy's face on the ground.

The bonanza took a light year to come and it came with a fantastic Atlantic phytoplankton show bringing into my mind a cloud of fireflies in the floodplain.

Extremely exhausted and without much to do in deep dark waters we played plan A and felt asleep.

From On the River
Dedicated to Kapul

Sebastiao Tapajos

Sebastiao Tapajos and the two rivers on the background.


www.sebastiãotapajos.blogspot.com

One or another

Spain x Holland in Rainforest

Birding day at Maica

Elizabeth Bishop "Santarem"

Even if one were tempted to literary interpretations such as life/death, right/wrong, male/female
- Such notions would have resolved, dissolved straight off in that watery, dazzling dialect.

Elizabeth Bishop "Santarem"

With the city lights fading out behind...

...Mars is spotted. Your (smiles turn into laughs) thoughts turn into plans; in your hammocks your meditations are interrupted by a nap, dreams begin to shape, nightmares too.

Brazil New Forest Code

The New Forest Code forgives whom deforested hill slopes and springs until July 2008. Those responsible are free to pay a fine for the damage.

In other words "Do you remember those eco-crimes you committed? Well, forget about it.!!!"


Under the proposal approved, the area of preservation of rivers with up to five meters in width gets smaller. The minimum distance between planting and the river drops from 30 to 15 meters.

In Other words: "Do you remember those eco-crimes you committed? They were not actually crimes, go ahead and do more.

Another point that has generated protests from environmentalists was the decision to release some properties to maintain a preserved area, which today is required by law. With the new code, in some states, all land up to 400 hectares will be used for farming.
In other words: In other words, you can chop off that little slice of forest in your property as well.

Conclusion: Wildlife and biodiversity under even more threat.

Derek's quick fix

Finally Derek's book has been finished and published, which means it is ready to be read. It should be about his many adventures throughout he world and the lessons he learn in the process. It contains the wisdom Derek acquired during his many adventures and meditations throughout the world under "suicidal" circumstances, unless you think the Jungle Marathon is like playing hide and seek.

My signed copy in on the way. Kwik quick.

"Don't wait. The time will never be just right"




bravesoldierventures.com/

Taken from www.atlanticrising.org

Buffalo trample the Amazon
How water buffalo are damaging the Amazon's floodplain

Written by Lynn

Water buffalo may not be the most pressing threat to the Amazon as a whole but on the river’s floodplain they are doing serious damage. The floodplain makes up less than five percent of the area of the Amazon and does not grab headlines like the forest. But it is a unique ecosystem home to incredible biodiversity, which is being threatened.



For six months or so of every year the floodplain is covered by water (sometimes up to nine metres) and land mammals like three toed sloths retire to the tree tops while dolphins and seed eating fish swim between the trunks. Small channels become lakes and wooded areas become forest islands.



Buffalo were introduced to the Amazon around 200 years ago. There are varying explanations of how they came, some say a boat headed for Guyana was shipwrecked and the buffalo swam to the island of Marajó and others say they were brought by Catholic missionaries. But, however they arrived, they are now causing significant damage. Local farmers who live in wooden houses on stilts growing vegetables on the fertile plain spend the wet season keeping water buffalo out of their gardens. The number of buffalo in the area is increasing year on year and grew by 13 percent a year between 1975 and 2000 compared to a four percent yearly increase in cattle over the same period.

Amazonian ecologist Gil Serique said: “They eat everything that is green including the giant water lilies and because they are very heavy they compress the soil which changes the drainage pattern.”

The water buffalo, which are used for milk and meat, also create problems for fish because they eat floating islands of weeds in which fish feed and breed. Serique said the buffalo cause problems by trampling vegetation, which then takes longer to recover. The rearing of buffalo is also connected to deforestation because when the water gets too deep the owners move their herds to areas beyond the floodplain, which have to be cleared for the purpose.



Buffalo are more productive than cattle, able to graze more effectively and for longer during the flooded period and are less susceptible to water borne diseases, which make them an attractive choice for ranchers. This means the environmental problems caused by buffalo herds and conflicts between arable farmers and buffalo are likely to continue.

From www.atlanticrising.org

Eating the Amazon
How Europe's demand for cheap meat is damaging the rainforest

Written by Lynn

Europe’s demand for cheap meat is dramatically changing the landscape of the Amazon. Rainforest around Santarém has been replaced with fields over the last five years thanks to the advent of soya farming in the area.

Huge multinational Cargill built a port on the Amazon at Santarém to export soya to Europe where the grains are converted into feed for chickens and other farm animals.

Cargill presents an insatiable demand so farmers from soya growing areas like Matto Grosso moved to Santarém to be nearer the port taking advantage of reduced transport costs. This influx of outsiders had lead to conflict with local people.

Farmer Luis Pereira Machado, 61, sells all his crop to Cargill, usually before it is harvested. He said: “The more you have the more they want.” He moved to the area from Matto Grosso but does not feel welcome near Santarém.

Aside from cultural conflicts, there are many environmental problems associated with soya farming. Environmentalists are furious because of the deforestation caused by soya farming. They claim pesticides and fertilizers from soya farms damage the ecosystems of creeks and rivers. They also argue that the wakes from big ships damage the riverbanks.

Others complain about the lack of employment for local people. Soya farming is largely mechanized and Cargill’s port only employs 60 people because nothing is processed in Santarém, soya is just stored and then exported.

There are also concerns, well documented by Greenpeace in a report called Eating Up The Amazon, that soya farmers acquired land in illegal or irregular ways and in some cases use slave labour for clearing the forest. According to Greenpeace, it is these illegal activities that subsidise the price of meat in Europe.

The problems of soya farming in the Amazon look set to increase. Most of the soya that Cargill exports through Santarém is brought in trucks along the Br163 from Matto Grosso. This road is in the process of being paved which environmentalists say will lead to more deforestation along its length and more soya farmers moving to the area.

Amazonian ecologist Gil Serique said: “It seems to be very easy to make money selling soya beans to Cargill. I am sure there is going to be an explosion of soya around Santarém.”

Read about out how water buffalo are damaging the Amazon floodplain here. Or read about one attempt to use the forest without losing it in Guyana here.