Agrofuels and Family and Peasant Agriculture: Inputs for the debate

Abstract

This report summarises the seminar held in Rio de Janeiro on July 12-13, 2007 focusing on Agrofuels and its consequent effects on family and peasant farming within the context of Brazilian agriculture and rural development. The paper is divided into three chapters ranging from the context and problems relating to agrofuels in Brazil to the challenges and prospects for agrofuels in the country. Each chapter was a presentation at the seminar and the paper later discusses the ideas within the debate and tries to identify the key points raised at the seminar. The event was based on the initiative of the Working Group on agriculture of Rede Brasileira pela Integração dos Povos – REBRIP (Brazilian Network for the Integration of the Peoples) and Federação de Órgãos para Assistência Social e Educacional – FASE (Federation of Agencies for Social and Educational Assistance), with the support from ActionAid Brazil, the Heinrich Boll Foundation and Oxfam International