Read the information in Fig. 1 about a soy-growing frontier in Mato Grosso, Brazil. A cooperative has cleared part of a former woodland area for mechanised ...
Question 1 Report
Read the information in Fig. 1 about a soy-growing frontier in Mato Grosso, Brazil. A cooperative has cleared part of a former woodland area for mechanised soy farming. Grain is transported by road to a processing plant, and the cooperative argues that export income supports jobs and services. Environmental groups are investigating changes to soil, water and biodiversity in the surrounding rural ecosystem.
(a) Identify the crop grown in the cleared area. [1]
(b) State one reason why the cooperative transports grain to a processing plant. [2]
(c) Describe two ways in which woodland clearance can change the local water cycle. [4]
(d) Explain how large-scale soy farming can affect biodiversity. [7]
(e) Describe three social or economic benefits that soy production may bring to the rural area. [6]
(f) Which strategy could allow soy production to continue with less environmental damage? Explain your answer. [10]
Answer Details
(a) The crop is soy, or soya beans. [1]
(b) Grain is transported to be processed into products such as oil or animal feed. Processing adds value and can allow access to export markets. [2]
(c) Woodland clearance reduces interception and transpiration. This can increase surface runoff and reduce infiltration, raising river discharge or flood risk. It may also reduce local humidity and rainfall. Any two developed changes. [4]
(d) Clearing removes habitats, food and shelter, so populations may decline or migrate. A single soy crop replaces many plant species. Pesticides can kill non-target organisms, roads fragment habitats, and soil or water pollution can harm aquatic species. [7]
(e) Soy production can create farm, transport and processing jobs; earn export income; and provide profits for farmers and businesses. Income may fund local services, roads may improve, and processing creates secondary employment. Any three developed benefits. [6]
(f) A strong strategy is to use already cleared or degraded land, reducing pressure to clear new woodland. Maintain forest buffers beside rivers to protect water quality and wildlife corridors. Crop rotation or cover crops can maintain soil fertility, while precision fertiliser and pesticide use reduces pollution. Certified supply chains and monitoring can identify illegal clearance. Together these measures allow production but reduce damage to forest, soil, water and biodiversity. [10]
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