Jennifer Sills Switch to Corn Promotes Amazon Deforestation

THE UNITED STATES IS THE WORLD'S LEADING PRODUCER OF SOY. HOWEVER, MANY U.S. FARMERS are shining from soy to corn (maize) in order to qualify for generous government subsidies intended to promote biofliel production (7); since 2006, U.S. corn production has risen 19% while soy production has fallen by 15% (2). This in turn is helping to drive a major increase in global soy prices (5), which have nearly doubled in the past 14 months. The rising price for soy has important consequences for Amazonian forests and savannawoodlands (4). In Brazil, the world's second-leading soy producer, deforestation rates (J) and especially fire incidence (6) have increased sharply in recent months in the main soyand beefproducing states in Amazonia (and not in states with little soy production). Although dry weather is a contributing factor, these increases are widely attributed to rising soy and beef prices (5, 7), and studies suggest a strong link between Amazonian deforestation and soy demand (8,9). Some Amazonian forests are directly cleared for soy farms (8). Farmers also purchase large expanses of cattle pasture for soy production, effectively pushing the ranchers farther into the Amazonian frontier or onto lands unsuitable for soy production (9). In addition, higher soy costs tend to raise global beef prices because soy-based livestock feeds become more expensive (70), creating an indirect incentive for forest conversion to pasture. Finally, the powerful Brazilian soy lobby is a key driving force behind initiatives to expand Amazonian highways and transportation networks in order to transport soybeans to market, and this is greatly increasing access to forests for ranchers, loggers, and land speculators (77,12). In a globalized world, the impacts of local decisions about crop preferences can have farreaching implications. As illustrated by an apparent "com connection" to Amazonian deforestation, the environmental benefits of corn-based biofiiel might be considerably reduced when its fiill and indirect costs are considered.