Resumo

Global food demand is projected to rise by 60–70% by 2050, requiring intensified land use and agricultural expansion (van Dijk et al., 2021). In the Brazilian Pampa, traditionally used for extensive livestock, recent decades have seen increased soybean and irrigated rice cultivation (CONAB, 2017). This intensification alters natural ecosystems, affecting environmental services and landscape dynamics (Caumo et al., 2021). The study examines land use changes from 1985 to 2021 and their impacts on soybean, rice, and cattle production, considering gains in protein and calorie output.

In the Brazilian Pampa, traditional extensive livestock systems have been increasingly replaced by crop cultivation, particularly soy and irrigated rice, altering natural grasslands and ecosystem services (EMBRAPA, 2022; CONAB, 2017). This raises the question of whether land use changes have enhanced protein and calorie production in the biome. The study aims to analyse land use transitions in the Pampa between 1985 and 2021 and assess their effects on soy, rice, and beef production, supporting strategies for sustainable intensification while preserving natural landscapes.

Land use change drives agricultural intensification, affecting productivity and environmental sustainability. In the Brazilian Pampa, shifts from extensive livestock to crop cultivation, influenced by technology, history, and socio-economic pressures, alter soil, water, and biodiversity (EMBRAPA, 2022; MMA, 2022). Integrating crops and livestock can improve protein and calorie output but may compromise ecosystem services. Understanding these impacts is crucial for sustainable management, balancing food security with conservation and landscape resilience (FAO, 2017).

The study analysed land-use changes in the Pampa Biome, covering Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, focusing on soybean, rice, and beef cattle production. Data from 1985–2021 were obtained from MapBiomas, IBGE, and cattle statistics. Systems were classified as native grassland livestock, integrated crop-livestock, and combined systems. Environmental and production variables were quantified, and time series were segmented into four agricultural and three livestock periods. ANOVA and Scheffé’s test (5%) identified trends and impacts of converting grasslands into productive systems.

The natural formations in the Brazilian Pampa declined by 29.55%, while anthropogenic areas rose 107.54%, driven by expansion of soy (+172.77%), rice (+111.49%), and intensified beef production. Protein and calorie outputs increased, with soy (+319.09%), rice (+112.97%), and beef (+48.15%). Intensification relied on fertilisers, irrigation, and improved management, enhancing yields but risking soil, water, and greenhouse gas impacts. Integrated crop-livestock-forestry systems offer partial conservation, yet biodiversity loss persists, highlighting the need for environmental assessments.

Land use changes in the Pampa biome, especially the expansion of soy and rice, have boosted protein, calorie, and beef production, aided by technology and management practices. Economic, social, and trade factors also contributed. Despite partial conservation, grasslands declined, threatening biodiversity. The study highlights trade-offs between productivity and environmental preservation, emphasising that integrated systems can improve output but require careful planning to balance food production with conservation of natural landscapes.

CAUMO, M., et al. (2021). Grassland community structure in Permanent Preservation Areas associated with forestry and livestock in the Pampa biome, Southern Brazil. South African Journal of Botany, 139, 442–448. CONCEIÇÃO, J. C. P. R. da. (2022). Integração pecuária-lavoura: avanços e principais desafios. http://repositorio.ipea.gov.br/handle/11058/11261 CONAB. (2017). A produtividade da soja: Análise e perspectiva. http://www.conab.gov.br EMBRAPA. (2022). Bioma Pampa - Portal Embrapa. https://www.embrapa.br/contando-ciencia/bioma-pampa FAO. (2017). Biodiversidade Brasileira.