The challenges of cropping and forestry intensification on grasslands livestock production systems: the Uruguayan case
Livestock production has traditionally prevailed on the grassland ecosystems of the pampas region of South America.However, the global increase in crops prices is having a mayor impact on land use and farming practices.More than 1 million hectares of virgin land per year were taken for cropping, in the last 40 years.Leading by soybean farming the Southern Cone of Latin America was responsible for more than 40％ of the increase in world cropping area, The best soils have moved up from livestock production to cropping, leaving the marginal ones to animal production.Uruguay is in the geographic center of the region and additionally has a large growth of forestry plantations which displaced 10％ of the livestock production area since 1990.As a result, land price has increased approximately 2.8 times in the last 5 years.Beef prices are increasing and meat demand appears to be strong and high priced in the near future, promoting the increase in production even on marginal and fragile lands.This paper examines the available technology for pastoral production in order to cope the rising demand considering economic competition and impact on natural resources.Accordingly a new research agenda is highlighted.
F.Montossi W.Ayala R.Díaz
Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria,INIA,Ruta 5,km.386,Tacuarembó,Uruguay
国际会议
呼和浩特
英文
2008-06-29（万方平台首次上网日期，不代表论文的发表时间）