Evaluation of the Progress of Intensive Agriculture in the Cerrado Piauiense – Brazil

The duality agricultural production and environmental preservation is a consequence of the growth of the world population and globalization. On the one hand, there is the need for food production; on the other hand, there is the need to preserve the environment. Of the existing Biomes in Brazil, the Cerrado is the most affected by these two factors. This biome has been intensively explored with mechanized farming practices since the 70's, particularly grain cultivation. Common in the South, Southeast and Midwest of the country, this agricultural practice has reached the Brazilian Northeast. The State of Piauí ranks third in this region. Therefore, this research aims to conduct a temporal analysis (1984- 2009) the advancement of intensive farming in the Cerrado Piauí using satellite images. The results showed that the area intended for agricultural purposes has increased by 262.91%. This study corroborates government actions aimed to promote the efficient use of the land and preserve the biotic resources of the forest.