A new study conducted by researchers at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) has revealed that deforestation has led to a loss of US$1.03 billion in soybean and corn production in the Amazon between 2006 and 2019. On average, this translates to an annual loss of US$73 million.

The scientists analyzed the impact of forest destruction on the region's climate and found that since 1980, there has been a delay in the arrival of the rainy season and a reduction in annual rainfall, along with a rise in temperatures.

As a consequence, soybeans are planted later, and the second corn crop, cultivated in the same area after the soybean harvest, does not have enough time to fully develop.

The research is funded by the Rainforest Foundation Norway, and the new study has yet to undergo peer review.

In August, Folha visited four farms in Paragominas, in northeastern Pará. In all cases, the owners claimed not to see a connection between deforestation of the biome and climate variations. However, they reported production losses due to the climate, either from drought or excessive concentrated rainfall.

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