Fertilizer economy in the crop–livestock integration in the Cerrado

Abstract

The recent surge in food prices is raising food security concerns in poor regions and countries and it is also causing inflationary pressures worldwide. In spite of the increasing production costs arising from this scenario, major food- and feed-producing countries, such as Brazil, are being challenged to increase supply to alleviate macroeconomic instabilities. However, in the short-run, farmers’ decisions on land-use changes are strongly influenced by expected returns; and, coping with the recent increases in the price of fertilizers might be a key factor in determining the choice of which crop to grow. This article provides an example of the potential for reducing the costs of production in agricultural systems through integrated crop-livestock systems.