Brazil taps soy grower, former Mato Grosso vice governor as agriculture minister

President-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Thursday confirmed the appointment of soy grower and former vice governor of Brazil's biggest farm state as the country's new agriculture minister, a widely anticipated move.

After the announcement, Carlos Favaro, an elected senator, vowed to work to improve Brazil's image abroad by transforming the South American nation "into the world's most sustainable agricultural powerhouse." Favaro said after the appointment that combating illegal deforestation is paramount, as neglect for the environment can cause local farmers to lose clients in world markets.

Brazil has seen rising illegal deforestation and the dismantling of environmental protection services under Jair Bolsonaro, the right-wing president leaving office on Saturday after losing the tightest presidential election in Brazil's history. This month the European Union, which is Brazil's second largest export destination after China, agreed on a new law to prevent companies from selling to EU markets any goods like coffee, beef, soy and other commodities linked to deforestation around the world.

To curb deforestation, Favaro said he would promote policy to increase use of degraded pastureland for agriculture, which he said would reduce pressure to clear native land to grow crops. He also said the government is keen to help develop a carbon market while advocating farmers must get paid for environment services. Favaro is one of the allies that Lula lured from Brazil's powerhouse farm sector during the presidential campaign, as he looked to fracture his rival's strong rural support base.

The move, however, risked tensions with his own environmentalist supporters. Marina Silva, who was appointed environment minister on Thursday, previously said alliances with lawmakers such as Favaro would "maintain the country's status as environmental pariah."

Favaro said on Thursday he would work alongside prominent Amazon defender Silva, who had served as environment minister between 2003 and 2008. He noted neglect for the environment can cost Brazil dearly and "fatally wound agribusiness."

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)