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Get Thinking…

Study the figure, which shows information about a farming system in south west Nigeria (an LIC in Africa)

  1. Identify the zone which has the largest plots of cultivated land (1).
  2. Using the Figure, name :
    1. A subsistence crop grown around the village of Poka (1).
    2. A crop grown by the villagers to sell for cash (1).

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  • Zone A is farmed intensively. Describe three characteristics of intensive farming (3).
  • Suggest why larger amounts of crops are produced in Zone D than in Zone E (2).

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Get Thinking… ANSWERS

Study the figure, which shows information about a farming system in south west Nigeria (an LIC in Africa

1. Zone C

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2a.yams/peppers/vegetables/fruit/

cassava/maize/melons/oil palm

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2b. Kola nut/rubber/cocoa/groundnuts

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3. small plots of land; large amounts of inputs/fertilizer/capital; high crop yields; labour intensive/lots of workers;

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4. larger amount of land; better water supply/presence of river/good irrigation;

zone E is largely forested; flatter land;

more fertile soils;

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Commercial Beef Farming - Brazil

Lesson Outcomes:

  • To be able to create a flow chart showcasing beef farming in Brazil.
  • To be able to discuss the negative impacts and solutions to beef farming in Brazil.
  • To apply this knowledge and understanding to a 7 mark exam question.

Lesson Objective:

To learn about large scale commercial beef farming in Brazil.

Key Terms

NIC

Producer

Exporter

Sustainable

Amazon Basin

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Brazil – Background Info

Brazil is an NIC in South America and is the world’s second largest beef producer and the largest beef exporter.

Top 10 beef producing countries (2018)

This map shows increasing herd size (in millions of cattle) between 1970 and 2017, for Brazil’s geographical regions. Herd sizes have increased most significantly in the North and Central West regions

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Learning Activity

Sort the following inputs (physical/human), processes, and outputs into a flow chart. Use the next slide as a template.

Beef farming is not restricted to a single climate zone. Tropical Rainforest, grassland (cerrado) and temperate climates all allow for rearing cattle.

Beef consumption increases as countries become more wealthy so the market is important. Traditional butchers are replaced by large supermarket chains to meet demands, thus increasing the scale of operations

Fattening cattle in pens (feedlots) and with improved pastures has resulted in a drop in slaughter age from 4 to 3 years.

TNCs are investing capital because large profits can be made

Fresh beef converted to burgers sold in fast food restaurants and grocery stores across Brazil, Russia, Venezuela.

Breeding. To improve the quality of the meat, crossbreeding programmes take place with native and European breeds.

Seeding and grazing

Large areas of land

Skilled labor is abundant in the South and cheap in the North where there are high levels of poverty.

Processed meats in canned and ready meals are shipped to Europe and America

Felling of rainforest. Creating pastures

Research and Development

Leather to make shoes and clothing goes to China, Italy, Vietnam to then be sold all over the world

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Inputs

Case Study: Beef Farming in Brazil

Impact of Cattle on Amazon Basin

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Making Beef Production Sustainable

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Processes

Outputs

Human

Physical

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Learning Activity - ANSWERS

Sort the following inputs (physical/human), processes, and outputs into a flow chart.

Beef farming is not restricted to a single climate zone. Tropical Rainforest, grassland (cerrado), and temperate climates all allow for rearing cattle.

Beef consumption increases as countries become more wealthy so the market is important. Traditional butches are replaces by large supermarket chains to meet demands, thus increasing the scale of operations

Fattening cattle in pens (feedlots) and with improved pastures has resulted in a drop in slaughter age from 4 to 3 years.

TNCs are investing capital because large profits can be made

Fresh beef converted to burgers sold in fast food restaurants and grocery stores across Brazil, Russia, Venezuela.

Breeding. To improve the quality of the meat, crossbreeding programmes take place with native and European breeds.

Seeding and grazing

Large areas of land in Brazil

480000km2

Skilled labor is abundant in the South and cheap in the North where there are high levels of poverty.

Processed meats in canned and ready meals to Europe and America

Felling of rainforest. Creating pastures

Research and Development

Leather to make shoes and clothing goes to China, italy, Vietnam to then be sold all over the world

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Commercial Beef Farming - Brazil

Lesson Outcomes:

  • To be able to create a flow chart showcasing beef farming in Brazil.
  • To be able to discuss the negative impacts and solutions to beef farming in Brazil.
  • To apply this knowledge and understanding to a 7 mark exam question.

Lesson Objective:

To learn about large scale commercial beef farming in Brazil.

Key Terms

NIC

Producer

Exporter

Sustainable

Amazon Basin

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Main impacts of cattle farming in the Amazon Basin

  • Deforestation: Cattle ranching is a primary driver of deforestation in the Amazon Basin. For example, between August 2019 and July 2020, over 11,000 square kilometers of Amazon rainforest were cleared in Brazil, primarily for cattle ranching. This deforestation leads to habitat loss for unique species like the Amazon river dolphin and the critically endangered Amazonian manatee.
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Main impacts of cattle farming in the Amazon Basin

  • Greenhouse Gas Emissions: The expansion of cattle farming significantly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Brazil, as a major global beef exporter, is also a significant emitter of greenhouse gases. The beef industry is responsible for approximately 70% of Brazil's deforestation emissions, releasing substantial amounts of carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere.
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Main impacts of cattle farming in the Amazon Basin

  • Biodiversity Loss: The loss of rainforests due to cattle farming directly impacts biodiversity. The Amazon Basin is home to approximately 10% of known species on Earth. The deforestation caused by ranching threatens these species. For instance, the jaguar population is dwindling as their habitats disappear, and many plant species with potential medicinal value may be lost forever.

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Main impacts of cattle farming in the Amazon Basin

  • Water Pollution: Cattle farming can lead to water pollution through manure runoff and chemical fertilizers. In Brazil, runoff from cattle operations, laden with pollutants, enters waterways. This has resulted in fish kills in some areas and water contamination, negatively affecting aquatic ecosystems.
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Main impacts of cattle farming in the Amazon Basin

  • Indigenous Rights: Indigenous communities are often adversely affected. In Peru, indigenous communities, such as the Ashéninka people, have faced threats and violence due to land conflicts caused by cattle ranching. Their ancestral lands are encroached upon, leading to the disruption of their traditional ways of life.

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Commercial Beef Farming - Brazil

Lesson Outcomes:

  • To be able to create a flow chart showcasing beef farming in Brazil.
  • To be able to discuss the negative impacts and solutions to beef farming in Brazil.
  • To apply this knowledge and understanding to a 7 mark exam question.

Lesson Objective:

To learn about large scale commercial beef farming in Brazil.

Key Terms

NIC

Producer

Exporter

Sustainable

Amazon Basin

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Learning Activity

For an example of a farm or agricultural system at a named location, describe the farming system. (7 marks)

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In the Brazilian Amazon, beef farming is a prominent agricultural system that occurs in a tropical rainforest climate zone. This region is known for its vast rainforest, and beef farming here has significant implications. Brazil is the largest exporter of beef in the world and the second largest producer after the USA.

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A physical input in the beef farming system is the climate. The Amazon allows for beef farming across various climate zones. In the Amazon, extensive grasslands known as "cerrado" provide suitable conditions for cattle rearing, while the tropical rainforest is also utilized for this purpose.

Another input is investment. Transnational corporations have recognized the potential in the Amazon beef industry, not only for meat production but also for biofuels and pharmaceutical research. For instance, companies like JBS have invested in research to develop sustainable beef supply chains

A number of processes are common practice in beef farming in Brazil. The adoption of modern techniques, such as fattening cattle in feedlots, has significantly transformed the industry. This has resulted in a drop in the slaughter age from 4 to 3 years, increasing efficiency and production.

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Apart from the beef produced on cattle ranches, leather from the cattle is another output. It is used for making shoes and clothing. It is exported to countries like China, Italy, and Vietnam, and from there, these leather products are distributed globally.

Skilled labor remains abundant in the southern regions, but innovative training programs in the north in areas such as Amazonia and Mato Grosso are being developed to enhance labor skills and safety.

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Commercial Beef Farming - Brazil

Lesson Outcomes:

  • To be able to create a flow chart showcasing beef farming in Brazil.
  • To be able to discuss the negative impacts and solutions to beef farming in Brazil.
  • To apply this knowledge and understanding to a 7 mark exam question.

Lesson Objective:

To learn about large scale commercial beef farming in Brazil.

Key Terms

NIC

Producer

Exporter

Sustainable

Amazon Basin