ABSTRACT
A new wave of industrialisation is transforming South American geographies of food production. In Brazil, the region’s largest and most populous nation, the availability of arable land to produce fresh food for cities and towns is diminishing as export commodities encroach on fruit and vegetable farms already threatened by urban expansion. Brazil’s agricultural exports correlate with Chinese demand, where the Xi administration’s policies have increased the nation’s urban population to 60% and envision a further 10% by 2030. This has increased middle-class consumption of pork and beef, requiring Brazilian soybeans for animal feed. Although Brazil has not officially joined the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), its industry associations are exploring how doing so might bring new investment into agricultural infrastructure. This chapter considers associated environmental and socio-economic concerns, as well steps that could harness BRI to support more sustainable local development.
