Brazil Thesis

BACKGROUND PAPER

ON

BRAZIL

1. “Considered one of the fastest growing economies in the western hemisphere, Brazil is currently the third largest agricultural producer in the world.”1 However, poverty and lack of resources have been the forefront of Brazil’s concerns in result of the growing populace. Implementation of food programs and a new outlook on resource exportation have led Brazil to become a sought-after trade partner of the United States.

2. Poverty has troubled Brazil in many forms, including the inability to access public services and lack of education.2 Due to the high poverty level, the president of the National Council on Food and Nutritional Security (CONSEA) implemented the Zero Hunger program in 2003.3 This program ensures

Brazil’s climate creates a solid foundation for the production and trade of natural resources. As many countries do, Brazil produces a variety of goods through family farming and agricultural business endeavors.5 Family farming provides the majority of beans, dairy, and poultry to more than four million local families.6 Family farming is implemented by traditional means of foraging, compared to big business agriculture.7 Agricultural business production includes goods “such as soy, beef, orange juice, coffee and sugar.”8 Brazil’s land is also rich in oil, potentially increasing the demand of their resources and export profitability.9

4. “Brazil is one of the most important countries in US investment portfolios.”10 Among the list of foreign investment recipients, Brazil is near the top, with the majority of investments coming from the United States.11 Over the previous three years, Brazil’s imports from the United States are valued at over $100 billion in goods and services, increasing Brazil’s growth by over 210 percent.12 The United States has created a partnership with Brazil to assist agricultural growth and productivity in parts of Latin America and Africa, resulting in their successful increase of food

Brazil was once a poverty-stricken country, unable to feed their people three meals a day. After creating the Zero Hunger plan, the allocation of food has been steadily increased. With the rich land of Brazil, family farming has aided in the production of goods needed for trading. Imports and exports provided Brazil the ability to grow into being one of the world’s top agricultural producers. With the help of the United States, Brazil has used its experience in the agricultural business to aid other Latin American countries as well as some African countries with increasing their respective food security.

End Notes

1. Isadora Ferreira, “From Famine to Feast in Brazil,” Frontlines Online Edition, July/August 2013, https://www.usaid.gov/news-information/frontlines/aid-action-delivering-results/famine-feast-brazil. 2. “Rural poverty in Brazil,” Rural Poverty Portal, accessed 10 September 2016, http://www.ruralpovertyportal.org/country/home/tags/brazil. 3. Danuta Chmielewska and Darana Souza, “The Food Security Policy Context In Brazil,” International Policy Centre for Inclusive Growth, June 2011, http://www.ipc-undp.org/pub/IPCCountryStudy22.pdf. 4. Ibid. 5. Ibid. 6. Ibid. 7. Ibid. 8. Ibid. 9. “Brazil-Facts and Stats,” Landcorp International, accessed 10 September 2016,