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We study the effects of the adoption of new agricultural technologies on structural transformation. To guide empirical work, we present a simple model where the effect of agricultural productivity on industrial development depends on the factor-bias of technical change. We test the predictions of the model by studying the introduction of genetically engineered soybean seeds in Brazil, which had heterogeneous effects on agricultural productivity across areas with different soil and weather characteristics. We find that technical change in soy production was strongly labor-saving and led to industrial growth, as predicted by the model.

The Green Revolution is often seen as epitomising the dawn of scientific and technological advancement and modernity in the agricultural sector across developing countries, a process that unfolded from the 1940s through to the 1980s. Despite the time that has elapsed, this episode of the past continues to resonate today, and still shapes the institutions and practices of agricultural science and technology. In Brazil, China, and India, narratives of science-led agricultural transformations portray that period in glorifying terms—entailing pressing national imperatives, unprecedented achievements, and heroic individuals or organizations. These “epic narratives” draw on the past to produce meaning and empower the actors that deploy them. Epic narratives are reproduced over time and perpetuate a conviction about the heroic power of science and technology in agricultural development. By crafting history and cultivating a sense of scientific nationalism, exceptionalism, and heritage, these epic narratives sustain power-knowledge relations in agricultural science and technology, which are underpinned by a hegemonic modernization paradigm. Unravelling the processes of assemblage and reproduction of epic narratives helps us make sense of how science and technology actors draw on their subjective representations of the past to assert their position in the field at present. This includes making claims about their credentials to envision and deliver sustainable solutions for agriculture into the future.

Water contamination by emerging contaminants is increasing in the context of rising urbanization, industrialization, and agriculture production. Emerging contaminants refers to contaminants for which there is currently no regulation requiring monitoring or public reporting of their presence in our water supply or wastewaters. There are many emerging contaminants such as pesticides, pharmaceuticals, drugs, cosmetics, personal care products, surfactants, cleaning products, industrial formulations and chemicals, food additives, food packaging, metalloids, rare earth elements, nanomaterials, microplastics, and pathogens. The main sources of emerging contaminants are domestic discharges, hospital effluents, industrial wastewaters, runoff from agriculture, livestock and aquaculture, and landfill leachates. In particular, effluents from municipal wastewater treatment plants are major contributors to the presence of emerging contaminants in waters. Although many chemicals have been recently regulated as priority hazardous substances, conventional plants for wastewater and drinking water treatment were not designed to remove most emerging contaminants. Here, we review key examples of contamination in China, Portugal, Mexico, Colombia, and Brazil. Examples include persistent organic pollutants such as polychlorinated biphenyls, dibenzofurans, and polybrominated diphenyl ethers, in lake and ocean ecosystems in China; emerging contaminants such as alkylphenols, natural and synthetic estrogens, antibiotics, and antidepressants in Portuguese rivers; and pharmaceuticals, hormones, cosmetics, personal care products, and pesticides in Mexican, Brazilian, and Colombian waters. All continents are affected by these contaminants. Wastewater treatment plants should therefore be upgraded, e.g., by addition of tertiary treatment systems, to limit environmental pollution.

The continuous use of agricultural inputs for grain, fiber, and energy production in the Brazilian savannah can increase heavy metal (HM) concentrations in the soils. In this context, we aimed to determine the natural concentrations and establish the quality reference values (QRVs) of HMs in reference soils of a sedimentary watershed under native vegetation in one of the latest agricultural frontiers of Brazil in order to assess the impact of cultivation on the metal concentrations in cropped soils. Additionally, we studied the spatial variability of HMs and the efficiency of the multivariate analyses to distinguish between natural and anthropogenic sources of metals in the soils. Thirty-two and 30 composite soil samples were collected in areas under agricultural exploration and natural vegetation with minimal anthropic interference (low impact areas), respectively. The QRVs established could be ranked as follows (mg kg−1): Fe (18,700) > V (47.83) > Cr (43.44) > Ba (9.11) > Pb (2.73) > Ni (0.80) > Cu (0.74) > Zn (0.46) > Mo (0.34) > Cd (0.05) > Sb (< 0.0007) > Co (< 0.00008). Natural concentrations observed in non-anthropogenic soils are lower than those found in other regions, with the exception of Cr. Also, we found that the mean concentrations of Cd, Cu, Cr, Mo, Mn, Ni, Sb, V, and Zn in agricultural soil were far higher than their background values of the watershed topsoil. Based on our findings, the increased metal concentration in the agricultural soils increases the ecological risk. On the other hand, the mean metal concentrations remain close to the prevention value for soils established by the Brazilian Council for the Environment for agricultural land, which indicates that these areas require monitoring to guarantee foodstuff safety. Our results are useful for public policies not only in the studied area but also worldwide where soils are derived predominantly from sedimentary rocks such as sandstones, siltstones, shales, and limestones.

The subject of food security and land issues in Africa has become one of increased importance and contention over recent years. In particular, the focus has shifted to the role new global South donors – especially India, China and Brazil – are playing in shaping African agriculture through their increased involvement and investment in the continent. Approaching the topic through the framework of South-South co-operation, this highly original volume presents a critical analysis of the ways in which Chinese, Indian and Brazilian engagements in African agriculture are structured and implemented. Do these investments have the potential to create new opportunities to improve local living standards, transfer new technology and knowhow to African producers, and reverse the persistent productivity decline in African agriculture? Or will they simply aggravate the problem of food insecurity by accelerating the process of land alienation and displacement of local people from their land? Topical and comprehensive, Agricultural Development and Food Security in Africa offers fresh insight into a set of relationships that will shape both Africa and the world over the coming decades.

Most antibiotic use is for livestock, and it is growing with the increase in global demand for meat. It is unclear what the increase in demand for antibiotics means for the occurrence of drug resistance in animals and risk to humans. Van Boeckel et al. describe the global burden of antimicrobial resistance in animals on the basis of systematic reviews over the past 20 years (see the Perspective by Moore). There is a clear increase in the number of resistant bacterial strains occurring in chickens and pigs. The current study provides a much-needed baseline model for low- and middle-income countries and provides a “one health” perspective to which future data can be added. Science , this issue p. eaaw1944 ; see also p. 1251 Growing demand for meat in developing economies increases antibiotic consumption and fuels the risk of antibiotic resistance. The global scale-up in demand for animal protein is the most notable dietary trend of our time. Antimicrobial consumption in animals is threefold that of humans and has enabled large-scale animal protein production. The consequences for the development of antimicrobial resistance in animals have received comparatively less attention than in humans. We analyzed 901 point prevalence surveys of pathogens in developing countries to map resistance in animals. China and India represented the largest hotspots of resistance, with new hotspots emerging in Brazil and Kenya. From 2000 to 2018, the proportion of antimicrobials showing resistance above 50% increased from 0.15 to 0.41 in chickens and from 0.13 to 0.34 in pigs. Escalating resistance in animals is anticipated to have important consequences for animal health and, eventually, for human health.

From 2006 to 2010, deforestation in the Amazon frontier state of Mato Grosso decreased to 30% of its historical average (1996–2005) whereas agricultural production reached an all-time high. This study combines satellite data with government deforestation and production statistics to assess land-use transitions and potential market and policy drivers associated with these trends. In the forested region of the state, increased soy production from 2001 to 2005 was entirely due to cropland expansion into previously cleared pasture areas (74%) or forests (26%). From 2006 to 2010, 78% of production increases were due to expansion (22% to yield increases), with 91% on previously cleared land. Cropland expansion fell from 10 to 2% of deforestation between the two periods, with pasture expansion accounting for most remaining deforestation. Declining deforestation coincided with a collapse of commodity markets and implementation of policy measures to reduce deforestation. Soybean profitability has since increased to pre-2006 levels whereas deforestation continued to decline, suggesting that antideforestation measures may have influenced the agricultural sector. We found little evidence of direct leakage of soy expansion into cerrado in Mato Grosso during the late 2000s, although indirect land-use changes and leakage to more distant regions are possible. This study provides evidence that reduced deforestation and increased agricultural production can occur simultaneously in tropical forest frontiers, provided that land is available and policies promote the efficient use of already-cleared lands (intensification) while restricting deforestation. It remains uncertain whether government- and industry-led policies can contain deforestation if future market conditions favor another boom in agricultural expansion.

The semiarid lands of Northeast Brazil represent one of the most densely populated regions of the country. Rainfall variability together with land degradation and large‐scale poverty in rural areas makes this region vulnerable to droughts. Most of the agriculture in this region is rainfed and deficient rainfall leads to severe drought impacts. In this review, we examine different short‐ and long‐term strategies directed to cope with possible impacts of droughts proposed by the government, farmers, civil society, and the private sector. These are approaches to adaptation to drought in the Northeast of Brazil, and among them, we have agricultural management and soil conservation and better management of water resources. Other actions include seasonal climate forecasts and funds transfer and credits to affected small‐scale farmers. Although some of these actions are for the short term and may help to survive the drought situation, they may be only postdisaster mitigation options that do not improve adaptive capacity. They favor maladaptation and create dependency of farmers to government actions. Some experiences such as AdaptaSertão show potential benefits for small‐scale farmers. We identify key challenges for moving toward a more holistic risk management approach and highlight the need to integrate actions and tools for adaptation, combining technology‐based solutions with in‐depth knowledge of local and regional social, economic, and cultural aspects, among them seasonal climate forecasts and drought impacts studies, among some other proactive predisaster ways, rather than reactive postdisaster actions. Adaptation strategies must increase long‐term resilience of food production in the Brazilian Northeast, going beyond an individual drought event. The semiarid lands of Northeast Brazil NEB represent one of the most densely populated regions of the country. Rainfall variability together with land degradation and large‐scale poverty in rural areas make this region vulnerable to droughts in the present. Approaches to adaptation to drought in the NEB vary from agricultural practices and credits to farmers to infrastructure and climate forecasts. Adaptation strategies must increase long‐term resilience of food production in the Brazilian Northeast, going beyond an individual drought event.

On the eastern coast of Brazil, facing westward across a wide magnificent bay, lies Salvador, a major city in the Americas at the end of the eighteenth century. Those who distributed and sold food, from the poorest street vendors to the most prosperous traders-black and white, male and female, slave and free, Brazilian, Portuguese, and African-were connected in tangled ways to each other and to practically everyone else in the city, and are the subjects of this book. Food traders formed the city's most dynamic social component during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, constantly negotiating their social place. The boatmen who brought food to the city from across the bay decisively influenced the outcome of the war for Brazilian independence from Portugal by supplying the insurgents and not the colonial army. Richard Graham here shows for the first time that, far from being a city sharply and principally divided into two groups-the rich and powerful or the hapless poor or enslaved-Salvador had a population that included a great many who lived in between and moved up and down. The day-to-day behavior of those engaged in food marketing leads to questions about the government's role in regulating the economy and thus to notions of justice and equity, questions that directly affected both food traders and the wider consuming public. Their voices significantly shaped the debate still going on between those who support economic liberalization and those who resist it.