TY - JOUR
T1 - Extension services can promote pasture restoration
T2 - Evidence from Brazil’s low carbon agriculture plan
AU - Bragança, Arthur
AU - Newton, Peter
AU - Cohn, Avery
AU - Assunção, Juliano
AU - Camboim, Cristiane
AU - de Faveri, Diego
AU - Farinelli, Barbara
AU - Perego, Viviana M.E.
AU - Tavares, Mateus
AU - Resende, Janei
AU - de Medeiros, Sidney
AU - Searchinger, Timothy D.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2022 the Author(s).
PY - 2022/3/22
Y1 - 2022/3/22
N2 - Innovation and improved practices in the livestock sector represent key opportunities to meet global climate goals. This paper provides evidence that extension services can promote pasture restoration in cattle ranching in Brazil. We use a randomized controlled trial implemented in the context of the ABC Cerrado (a large-scale program launched in 2014 aimed at fostering technology adoption through a combination of training and technical assistance) to examine the effects of different types of extension on agricultural practices, input use, and productivity. Providing technical assistance to previously trained producers promoted pasture restoration, induced farmers to use inputs more intensively, helped them to improve their management and soil conservation practices, and substantially increased revenues. A cost–benefit calculation indicates that US$1 invested in the ABC Cerrado program increased profits by US$1.08 to $1.45. Incorporating carbon savings amplifies this return considerably.
AB - Innovation and improved practices in the livestock sector represent key opportunities to meet global climate goals. This paper provides evidence that extension services can promote pasture restoration in cattle ranching in Brazil. We use a randomized controlled trial implemented in the context of the ABC Cerrado (a large-scale program launched in 2014 aimed at fostering technology adoption through a combination of training and technical assistance) to examine the effects of different types of extension on agricultural practices, input use, and productivity. Providing technical assistance to previously trained producers promoted pasture restoration, induced farmers to use inputs more intensively, helped them to improve their management and soil conservation practices, and substantially increased revenues. A cost–benefit calculation indicates that US$1 invested in the ABC Cerrado program increased profits by US$1.08 to $1.45. Incorporating carbon savings amplifies this return considerably.
KW - Agricultural extension
KW - Cattle ranching
KW - Technology adoption
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U2 - 10.1073/pnas.2114913119
DO - 10.1073/pnas.2114913119
M3 - Article
C2 - 35298338
AN - SCOPUS:85126689117
SN - 0027-8424
VL - 119
JO - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
JF - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
IS - 12
M1 - e2114913119
ER -