Abstract
This chapter aims to demonstrate how the notion of political economy of territory, proposed by Milton Santos, aids in the interpretation of spatial dynamics of Brazilian agribusiness at the beginning of the 21st century. Among the many territorial expressions of agricultural dynamics, this article analyzes the dialectical relationship between the ‘centrifugal forces’, exemplified by the spatial dispersion of modern agriculture, and the ‘centripetal forces’, represented by the centralization of production control especially in the metropolis of São Paulo. Since the Brazilian exchange crisis of 1999, state policy to stimulate export of agricultural products, linked with the interests of the main representatives of agribusiness (large producers and corporations), has resulted in the accelerating expansion of the agricultural frontier, especially with soybean production in savanna areas. However, concomitant with the territorial dispersion of production, the centralization of capital and the increasing influence of finance and information for the development of modern agriculture have reinforced the command function of the main national metropolis.
Samuel Frederico, Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, Universidade Estadual Paulista—UNESP, Brazil; Email: sfrederico@rc.unesp.br.
Marina Almeida, Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro—UFTM, Brazil; Email: marinacastrodealmeida@gmail.com.
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Notes
- 1.
For Santos (1996), the social object of analysis is not the territory itself, but the ‘used territory’. This notion refers to the implantation and the differentiated use of engineering infrastructure or systems that arise from the dynamic movement of the economy and of society. To learn more about the concept, see Silveira (2014).
- 2.
With the idea of unnecessary circulation, Santos and Silveira (2001) are theorizing in parallel with the Marxist idea of necessary and unnecessary production, i.e. ‘a production whose presence is able to ensure the well-being of the population in comparison with other production intended export’ (p. 297). From the moral point of view, necessary production and circulation would be those that help people to survive and to develop, while unnecessary production and circulation would be ‘excessive, leaving to society an unnecessary burden’ (p. 297).
- 3.
Santos, Milton 1999: ‘Guerra dos Lugares’, in: Folha de S. Paulo. Caderno Mais!, 8 August.
- 4.
Such as the incentive policies to export coffee in the 1960s, in order to generate foreign exchange for the implementation of industrialization policies.
- 5.
The Cerrado is a Brazilian biome of the savanna type located principally in the central region of the country.
- 6.
The percentages refer to the total of Brazilian production. PAM/IBGE. 2014: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística. ‘Produção Agrícola Municipal’. Série Histórica 1990–2012. Retrieved August 18, 2016, from http://www.sidra.ibge.gov.br/bda/pesquisas/pam/default.asp.
- 7.
In decreasing order: Sorriso (MT), Sapezal (MT), Nova Mutum (MT), Campo Novo dos Parecis (MT), Formosa do Rio Preto (BA), Rio Verde (GO), Nova Ubiratã (MT), Querência (MT), Diamantino (MT) and Jataí (GO).
- 8.
Ubiquity means the power of the head-offices of large companies located in São Paulo to define the organizational and productive aspects of agricultural regions.
- 9.
SECEX/MDIC. 2014: Secretaria do Comércio Exterior. Ministério do Desenvolvimento, Indústria e Comércio Exterior. Estatísticas de Comércio Exterior. 2010. Retrieved August 18, 2016, from http://www.mdic.gov.br.
- 10.
BCB (Banco Central do Brasil), 2009: Anuário Estatístico do Crédito Rural, Série Histórica 2000/2012. Retrieved August 18, 2016, from http://www.bcb.gov.br/?RELRURAL.
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Frederico, S., de Almeida, M.C. (2017). The Political Economy of Territory and Agribusiness in Brazil. In: Melgaço, L., Prouse, C. (eds) Milton Santos: A Pioneer in Critical Geography from the Global South . Pioneers in Arts, Humanities, Science, Engineering, Practice, vol 11. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-53826-6_6
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