Biodiesel production and regional development in the Brazilian Savannah: an application of positive mathematical programming.

Abstract

Normal 0 21 false false false DE X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:Tabela normal; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:Calibri,sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Times New Roman; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Times New Roman; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} Biofuel production has been a greatly discussed topic in Brazil. In 2004, these debates lead the country to develop new policies and implement a national program for biodiesel use and production (PNPB) with the intent to foster regional development. In this context, the present study aims to assess the impacts of the PNPB on regional development in the Tocantins state, in a region of transition between Savannah and Amazon rain forest. Ranges of socio-economic indicators were collected among smallholders who cultivate Jatropha curcas and Ricinus communis . A positive mathematical programming (PMP) was applied, at regional level, aiming at estimating the impacts of oil seed activity on resources allocation, as well, as on farm income of farmers. For this purpose, the software GAMS ( General Algebraic Modeling System) was used to support the modeling simulations.