Agroforestry at Tome-Acu in Brazil: Evaluation (CS)

Question 1

economic sustainability: positive issues

Answer 1

• Thriving domestic and overseas markets result in a turnover of $56 million for the CAMTA cooperative
• All 124 member farms focus on cash crops, without feeling the need to grow staples (economic confidence).
• Pulp comes from 13 different species, helping avoiding dependency on one crop and the risk of collapse due to market collapse /blight
• The cooperative provides short-term capital loans to assist family start-ups

Question 2

economic sustainability: negative issues

Answer 2

• Farm are not fully independent (remittances from Japan supplement income)
• markets shift and demand varies year on year; there is always a risk of competition from similar schemes

Question 3

Social sustainability: positive issues

Answer 3

• The system is available to new colonists (1/3 of producers do not come from the established Japanese community)
• Each farm provides work for 8 people. This is an advantage in a region with a high population growth and in-migration

Question 4

Social sustainability: negative issues

Answer 4

-In recent years members of the youngest generation including the Japanese community are leaving to go to the cities in Brazil for better opportunities

Question 5

Environmental sustainability: positive issues

Answer 5

• No detrimental impacts to local water flows or climate have been noted and the use of tree species should help to reduce any potential carbon dioxide contributing to global warming
• Reduced dependency of farming on additions of artificial fertiliser is another point in its sustainability. Instead, organic waste is recycled

Question 6

Environmental sustainability: negative issues

Answer 6

• While the farm looks like forest, the species range supported is restricted
• disturbance of wild-life is an issue
• Will take several decades to ensure the system has no long-term impacts.