“It’s not true that we are destroying forestry and vegetation” – this was the message from Prof. Dr. Lucio Francelino Araujo from the Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering at the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil.
He was speaking at the British Society of Animal Science (BSAS) Conference 2025 which is underway this week at the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, Galway.
In a session titled ‘Brazilian Beef: Challenges and Opportunities in Meeting Global Demand for High-Quality Meat’ the professor explained that Brazil is one of the top exporters of agri-food produce in the world.
He explained that despite the accusation that Brazil has been destroying rainforests in the Amazon to make way for productive agricultural land, this is not the case, certainly now at least.
“We are not destroying our forests to produce animals,” he told the conference.
“Agri-business is Brazil today is the sector that employs the most people and generates around 28 million jobs.
“In 2023 in Brazil, we produced almost 84 million metric tonnes of feed. We are also the largest producer and exporter of coffee in the world.”
Other products made in Brazil placing the country at the top rankings globally for production and export are orange juice, soybean, bananas and beef to name just a few.
According to Prof. Araujo, two thirds (66.3%) of the area of Brazil is protected and conserved vegetation and rural landowners need to maintain between 20% and 80% of the total area of their property as legal reserves.
Crops use only 7.8% of the entire national territory and Brazil produces on the same soil 2-3 times a year according to the academic.
He said that Brazil’s agri-business sector plays a crucial role in both the domestic market and the global economy, particularly in the crop and livestock sectors.
“The country is one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of a wide range of agricultural products, including poultry, pork, beef, dairy and sheep products,” he stated.
“Poultry is an important part of the agri-industry, and the country is one of the world’s largest producer and largest exporters of chicken meat.
“In addition, it is also a world leader in pork production. It is one of the world’s largest pork producers and exporters, particularly to China, which is one of the main buyers.”
Beef cattle in Brazil
Brazil is the world’s largest exporter of beef, and the Brazil-based professor said that the cattle industry is the backbone of its agri-business.
With vast pastures and a favourable climate, he said the country can produce beef efficiently and on a large scale with major export markets including China, the US and the EU.
“The country’s ability to meet the demands of rapidly growing populations, particularly in emerging markets, has made it a critical player in the global food supply chain,” he stated.
“As global demand for protein continues to rise the country has a profound economic impact both domestically and globally.
“It creates jobs, boosts exports and strengthens the country’s geopolitical position in global trade, particularly in food and agriculture,” he continued.
Prof. Dr. Lucio Francelino Araujo at BSAS Conference 2025
In relation to the image of Brazil as a country which does not adhere to the highest environmental standards, Prof. Araujo said: “Sometimes we have heard some news from around the world that [we] are destroying our forests, we are destroying our vegetation… it’s not true.”
“It is law in Brazil… we need to preserve nature [in order] to have animal production in Brazil.”
“Since 2004, up to 2023, we are not destroying our forests or vegetation to produce animals,” he added.
“The reason we have improved our production is because we have improved our productivity. The improvement in our productivity is as a result of our research [between] the beef industry and universities in Brazil.”
Another point made by the professor is that Brazil has never had a “classic case” of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).
The main destinations for beef exports from Brazil in 2023 are as follows:
Country
Volume (t)
China
1,199,059
United States
138,669
Hong Kong
119,035
Chile
100,542
European Union
77,607
United Arab Emirates
76,901
Egypt
72,632
Russia
58,863
Philippines
56,222
Saudi Arabia
48,414
Others
348,145
Total
2,296,170
BSAS Conference 2025
The session on Brazil was just one of many insightful sessions hosted by experts from around the world at the BSAS Conference 2025 over three days this week.
The event sees approximately 400 delegates from 23 different countries gather to share and discuss the latest research and findings relating to all matters relevant to animal agriculture.
President of BSAS, David Kenny who is head of Teagasc Animal and Bioscience Research Department spoke to Agriland (below) about the key aim of this year’s conference.
