The trajectory of economic development in the Cerrado: Implications for the environment and health

Abstract

The article analyzes the trajectory of economic development in the Cerrado, highlighting the socio-environmental impacts resulting from the expansion of agribusiness in the region. It emphasizes the importance of the Cerrado for Brazilian agrifood commodity production, as it accounts for a significant share of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and exports, while also driving urban growth and job creation. However, as economic progress is intrinsically linked to increased deforestation, greenhouse gas emissions, and the weakening of environmental policies, the Cerrado has become the most threatened biome in Brazil. The article further discusses the Cerrado’s vulnerability and that of its rural population in the context of land financialization and resource concentration, which exacerbate inequalities and threaten the region’s socio-environmental sustainability. In conclusion, it highlights the implications of this trajectory for the formulation of public policies aimed at a just and sustainable transition, with particular emphasis on the identification of risks to the socioenvironmental health of the biome’s traditional populations.