On 16th November 2025, research presented at the COP30 climate summit in Belém revealed that switching from animal farming to plant-based agroforestry in Brazil can more than double rural producers’ income, increasing it by 110% per hectare. In some exceptional cases, particularly where low-yield cow farming is replaced with diverse, high-value plant-based agroforestry systems, income rises can reach up to 1,525%.
The study, led by ProVeg Brazil and conducted with Brazil’s Agroecology Cooperative Organization (OCA), highlights plant-based agroforestry’s ability to not only boost income but also enhance employment, creating 30 jobs for every R$1 million of production versus just 7 in animal farming. This transition supports family farming, diversifies income sources, and combats deforestation by requiring 12 times less land than animal farming to generate equal revenue.
Aline Baroni, executive director of ProVeg Brazil, said to Vegonomist, “ Brazil doesn’t need to choose between a strong economy and climate protection. Plant-based agroforestry systems are key to a more resilient and equitable food production model…The financial sector has a key role in this transition. Restricting credit for livestock projects in deforested areas could help redirect financing toward more sustainable practices.” She emphasised the importance of encouraging family farming, agroecology, and plant-based consumption as crucial strategies for sustainability.
The study stressed that transforming just 12% of degraded pastureland into agroforestry systems would help Brazil meet over 5% of its national climate mitigation commitments. ProVeg cites that over 90% of Amazon deforestation between 1985 and 2023 has been driven by the expansion of pastureland for cows.
A pilot project in Paraná, launched by ProVeg Brazil, is actively supporting a family farmer transitioning from farming cows for dairy and meat to an agroforestry system producing a range of plant-based foods for local school meals.
