An outlook on the future of Brazilian agriculture: how farming students of Tocantins perceive sustainability in the Cerrado

In the Brazilian Cerrado, land-use change caused by expansion and intensification of agribusiness farming has led to dramatic socio-environmental problems. To foster sustainable development, students have learn about land use according Sustainable Development Goals how implement them on their home farm future workplace. Through a questionnaire-based survey, our study explored perceptions 128 at Family Farming High School Porto Nacional sustainability systems in Cerrado Tocantins. We analyzed effectiveness school teaching sustainability, students’ occupational preferences perspectives, sentiment three common Tocantins, i.e., agribusiness, family farming, agroecological opinion business relationships among systems. Even though confirmed school-work alternation models transferring practices from farms, it also revealed poor understanding systemic definition sustainability. Students defined unsustainable farms with different perspectives evaluation criteria, most referring environmental indicators such as way materials are used, whether natural environment is protected, biodiversity preserved farm. There discrepancy between preference prevalent farming. While more than half would accept work an farm, significantly positive favor The systems, however, not perceived contending or isolated but partnering businesses, featuring low competition high cooperation rates. Our contributes broader appreciation perception Tocantins helps education programs improve