Consequences of climate change on Brazilian soybeans production

Abstract

Much has been said about climate change and its effects on agriculture. Concerning soybeans, this commodity is one of the main crops currently produced in the world and will play a fundamental role in ensuring food security. However, it is very sensitive to climatic variables, such as temperature, precipitation, and number of hours of light. Several studies simulate future climate conditions and their impact on soybean productivity. It is known that the increase in temperature and the change in the occurrence of rainfall will affect the production of this grain since they can change the physiology of the plant and reduce the arable areas for this crop. On the other hand, scenarios that have a higher CO₂ content have been reported as situations that can increase the productivity of this crop, as it is a scenario that enhances photosynthesis and, as a consequence, increases the availability of energy for the plant. Regarding the soybean crop in Brazil, most articles have shown simulations that a decrease will occur, both in the planted area and production, due to the climatic variables being above the maximum limits for the crop. As a result, it is up to the producer to make use of changes in technologies and genetics, to try to circumvent these negative impacts.

Keywords: Land Use, Extreme Weather Events, Climate Projections.