The influence of transnational corporations over social and agrarian dynamics at the southeast of the state of Piauí, Brazil

Abstract

This article examines the methods employed by transnational corporations to acquire land in the agricultural frontier of the southwestern region of the state of Piauí, Brazil. It also delves into the resulting implications for local social dynamics, with a specific focus on environmental and agrarian conflicts affecting traditional communities. The research provides a historical perspective on the expansion of agro-exporting companies into southwestern Piauí, which is now part of the region known as MATOPIBA, regarded as the nation's final agricultural frontier. Additionally, the article introduces a novel methodology for identifying land acquisition by foreign companies in Brazil, with detailed descriptions of three prominent cases. Furthermore, the study cross-references data on the incidence of socio-environmental conflicts and the price dynamics of the region's primary commodity, soybeans, revealing a moderate negative correlation between these variables (ρ = -0.33). Lastly, the paper discusses legislative considerations related to this topic and presents suggestions for mitigating the adverse effects of the identified phenomena.