02951naa a2200289 a 450000100080000000500110000800800410001910000180006024500610007826000090013952022190014865000140236765000220238165000100240365000130241365000190242665000090244565300210245465300110247565300180248665300120250465300170251670000180253370000200255170000170257177300730258816250192003-12-16       2003    bl ---       0--  u    #d1 aBODDEY, R. M.  aBrazilian agriculturebThe Transition to sustainability.  c2003  aBrazil has a total area of  85() million ha. of which 90%  is within thc tropics. Historically. the system of exploitation of the land for agriculture and forestry was based on land clcarjl1g, cultivation for some years and then moving on to new areas. This process often left degraded areas behind, especially in the mountainous areas of the country. With modem agricultural technology, crops can be successfully grown in virtually any region of the country. The current challenge for Brazil is to feed its population and provide agricultural surpluses for lhe growing ex- port markets, while preserving its rich and biologically-diverse native vegetation which still covers almost half of lhe country. The objective or this review is to trace the history or agricultural activity in this country, and to assess the sustainability of lhe cropping and pasture systems which today occupy lhe largest areas. At present approximately 50 million ha are under annual and perennial crops, while almost twice this area is under pastures. These pastures. predominately Brachiaria spp., arc mostly in a degraded stale due to lack or fertilization and over grazing. The various options available 10 recover these pastures or convert these areas for sustainable cropping are explained. In recent years, increasing proportions of soybean, wheat, and com are produced under zero tillage which favors lhe conservation of soil organic matter. This not only radically reduces lhe risk of erosion but also increases lhe capacity of the soils to relain nutrients and water. Small holders who represent a considerable fraction of Brazil's food crop production, generally do not have access to fertilizers or other agricultural chemicals. They obtain very low yields and their farming practices exhaust lhe soil of nutrients. The Brazilian sugarcane industry is the largest in the world and recent changes in the management of this crop and its impact upon sustainability issues are also discussed. Brazil also has vast areas of degraded pastures and abandoned hillsides that can be used for agricultural expansion. This would prevent further destruction of native vegetation and its accompanying biological diversity for agriculture.  asugarcane  atropical pastures  aCafé  aPastagem  aPlantio Direto  aSoja  aCana-de-açúcar  aCoffee  aDirect sowing  aSoybean  aZero tillage1 aXAVIER, D. F.1 aALVES, B. J. R.1 aURQUIAGA, S.  tJournal of Crop Production, New Yorkgv. 9, n. ½, p. 593-621, 2003.