ProVeg Brazil Tests Income Case for Replacing Cattle With Agroforestry

ProVeg Brazil is connecting a rural transition pilot in Paraná with new research presented at COP30, arguing that plant-based agroforestry can offer livestock producers a higher-income path while reducing pressure on land and emissions.

The organization’s Cultiva Project supports farmers who currently raise animals and want to shift gradually into crop-based production using agroforestry systems. The support covers agronomy, legal issues, finance, accounting and marketing, with transition plans adapted to each property rather than requiring an immediate exit from livestock.

Research points to higher producer income

A report coordinated by ProVeg Brazil and carried out by Brazil’s Agroecology Cooperative Organization found that switching from livestock farming to plant-based agroforestry could increase net income for Brazilian rural producers by 110% per hectare on average. In specific cases, where low-productivity cattle farming is replaced by biodiverse agroforestry with access to specialized markets, the projected increase reaches up to 1,525%.

The research also compares labor effects. According to ProVeg, every R$1 million of annual production in plant-based agroforestry systems generates 30 jobs across the supply chain, compared with seven jobs from livestock farming.

The findings are tied to Brazil’s climate and land-use profile. ProVeg cites calculations based on SEEG data indicating that livestock production accounts for close to 60% of Brazil’s total greenhouse gas emissions. It also cites MapBiomas data showing that more than 90% of Amazon deforestation between 1985 and 2023 was linked to the opening of pasture.

“Brazil doesn’t need to choose between a strong economy and climate protection. Our findings show that plant-based agroforestry systems are key to a more resilient and equitable food production matrix, capable of generating more value on the same land area currently used for livestock farming, as well as regenerating degraded areas,” stated Aline Baroni, executive director of ProVeg Brazil.

Paraná pilot begins with one family farm

The Cultiva Project’s pilot is taking place in Ortigueira, Paraná, where family farmer Seu José has begun leaving dairy and beef cattle production after previous experience with poultry, dairy and beef operations. The transition began in 2025 and involves gradually selling the herd and reinvesting in a mixed agroforestry system.

The planned production includes vegetables, fruits, tubers, shade-grown coffee, yerba mate and native Atlantic Forest trees. ProVeg says the system will also include crops such as beans, corn, bananas, watermelon, papaya and pumpkin, with some production intended for local school canteens.

Guidance for producers and advisers

The organization has also released a practical guide, Sowing Tomorrow, for producers and technical advisers. The guide sets out planning steps, case studies and common questions for farms assessing a transition from animal production to agroforestry.

Baroni stated, “In our assessment, we observed that animal production was not profitable for the producer and implied limitations such as a lack of food and agricultural diversity, limited autonomy, and a loss of quality of life. The expectation is that plant-based production will generate income more than 10 times higher than that of animals in the first year of transition.”