Productivity, investment and growth of agricultural production in Brazil

Result of Service The results of the study should be used as subsidies for improving the capacities of Brazilian institutions to diversify the productive structure, reduce the productivity gap with developed economies and encourage innovation and the incorporation of new technologies in agricultural production and management.

Work Location Brasília

Expected duration 230 Days

Duties and Responsibilities Based on the growth of production and material consumption (Gross Domestic Product – GDP), the development of society has evolved at the expense of environmental degradation (AEM [Millennium Ecosystem Assessment], 2005; IPCC, 2021). Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, desertification, deforestation, loss of biodiversity, chemical contamination of air, soil, water, and biological beings, among others, are only some of the costs resulting from this development model. Despite material progress, millions of people still lack access to essential goods and services such as food (FAO et al., 2020). Over the course of the 20th century, Brazil became an important international producer and provider of agricultural products (FAOSTAT, 2021; IBGE, 2021; MAPA, 2021). This transformation of Brazilian agriculture was mainly driven by the expansion of the productive sector (expansion of the agricultural frontier) (MapBiomas, 2021), especially in the Cerrado Biome, (The Brazilian savanna) and new technologies (Buainain et al., 2014; Gasques et al., 2008, 2018). ; J. E. R. Vieira Filho & Gasques, 2016; J. E. R. V. Vieira Filho & Fishlow, 2017). Although the technological transformation of Brazilian agriculture has been important, data show that this process was accompanied by a strong expansion of the cultivated area dedicated to the main export crops, such as soybeans and corn (IBGE, 2021; MapBiomas, 2021). This dynamics of expansion of Brazilian agricultural production, based on territorial incorporation and the implementation of new technologies has been put to the test due to less availability of new areas of production and the pressures to reduce deforestation and increase environmental protection areas. At the same time, there is global pressure to increase agricultural production, both due to the need for new inputs for other sectors of the economy, such as renewable energy based on biomass, as well as to meet the increased demand for food. In this context, investments in new agricultural technologies play a central role, to increase efficiency in the use of natural resources through productivity gains, in addition to reducing environmental impacts.

Therefore, studies that update the productive panorama of the Brazilian agricultural and cattle raising sector, including an evaluation of its productivity, are essential. It is worth mentioning that the Brazilian agricultural sector is very dynamic, therefore, changes can happen in relatively short periods, reinforcing the importance of updating productive diagnoses. From this perspective, the execution of studies that can contribute to an improvement of the capacities of Brazilian institutions to diversify the productive structure, reduce the productivity gap with developed economies and encourage innovation and incorporation of new technologies in agricultural production and management, become extremely relevant to help define development trajectories. The main goal of this study is to contribute to the improvement of institutions for the diversification of the productive structure, a reduction in the productivity gap with the economies developed and encouraging innovation and incorporation of new technologies in the production and management of the Brazilian agricultural sector. The study includes a productive diagnosis of the Brazilian agricultural sector, in addition to the evaluation of productivity growth. The main activities to be carried out are: survey and tab of information on Brazilian agricultural production; evaluation of information with the aid of geotechnologies; evaluation of the Brazilian agricultural structure; evaluation of productivity and investment in Brazilian agricultural production; reflection on the limits and challenges of investment and for the advancement of Brazilian agricultural productivity; reflection on the limits to the growth of Brazilian agricultural production. The expected results are two texts for discussion, the first dealing with the recent Brazilian agricultural structure, the second of recent productivity in the Brazilian agricultural sector.

Qualifications/special skills Academic Qualifications: - a doctorate in one of the following areas: Public Administration or Public Management; Economy; Engineering; Planning. Experience: -Minimum of 5 (five) years of experience in teaching and/or research related to Agricultural and Agrarian Economics, Environmental Economics and Applied Economics. - articles in the field of agricultural economics and/or related topics. Language: -Fluency in Portuguese

Additional Information Outputs/ Works Assignment: Product 1 – Research work plan . To be submitted 30 days after start Product 2. document containing a recent diagnosis of the Brazilian agricultural sector. (text for discussion). To be submitted 120 days after start Product 3. Document containing an assessment of recent productivity growth in the Brazilian agricultural sector (text for discussion). To be submitted 180 days after start Product 4. Final research document, in scientific article format. To be submitted 230 days after start

No Fee THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.