Evaluation of Bottlenecks for Soybean Producers to Implement Environmentally Friendly Production

A Case Study of the State of Paraná, Brazil

Abstract

The production of soybeans in Brazil is predominantly associated with land cleared through deforestation in the Amazon rainforest, attracting significant criticism for its environmental impact. However, the emergence of soybean producers with environmental awareness has been reported in previous studies. This study aimed to examine the challenges in transitioning to environmentally conscious production activities by comprehensively understanding producers’ interest in environmental issues and organic cultivation through meticulous interviews and text mining. Although high environmental awareness was observed among producers, challenges such as poor farming conditions, underdeveloped markets for organic agricultural products, and complexity of organic cultivation systems were identified.