While biodiesel production in Brazil has relied heavily on soybeans, recent initiatives and policies for the Amazon have focused on palm oil, touting it as a promisi ng new crop for increasing Brazil’s energy independence, recovering degraded lands, avoiding GHG emissions and creating jobs. Based on literature review of agroenergy policy in the Amazon, interviews with policy officials and participation in two national conferences on biofuels, we examine the extent to which these initiatives are considered sustainable with regard to social and environmental impacts. Recent scientific studies are questioning the social and environmental sustainability of the oil palm prod uction model currently being adopted in the Amazon. We conclude that biodiesel industry and the federal and state governments are taking into account these studies – but that palm oil developments will need improved policy and monitoring
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5716/WP16722.PDFAltmetric score:
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Publication year
2023
Authors
de Andrade R M T; Miccolis, A.
Language
English
Keywords
family farms, petroleum
