Global Commodities & Trade: A Case Study of Soybeans in the Brazilian Cerrado.

Espinoza, R., M. Gutierrez, M. Schultz and S. Sthapit. 2007. Graduate Program in Sustainable Development & Conservation Biology, Fall 2006 Problem Solving Team. University of Maryland.

Executive Summary

Soybean (Glycine max.) is an important globally-traded agricultural commodity. Soybean meal is the cheapest source of protein for making animals feeds while soybean oil is the most consumed edible oil in the world. Soybean products are consumed throughout the world, but a handful of countries produce more than 90% of the world's soybeans, underlining the global scope of soybean trade. Rising affluence and the subsequent increase in protein consumption in both developed and developing countries is increasing the demand for animal products and fueling the expansion of soybean production.

Brazil is the second largest producer of soybeans in the world. Brazil currently enjoys competitive advantage over the world's largest soybean producer, the United States, mainly due to its lower land prices. However, higher transportation costs in Brazil, due to the relative lack of infrastructure, add significantly to the production costs. The high cost of transportation in Brazil (especially central Brazil) has encouraged investments and infrastructure projects to lower the cost of transportation.

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Stem Elongation Response and Resource Partitioning in Velvetleaf under Multiple Stresses

S. Sthapit. 2005. College of Wooster, Senior Independent Study Project (Advisor: Dr. Marilyn Loveless)

Abstract

Two accessions of velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti) were grown under different combinations of foliar competition from corn and water stress in two trials. Plants were harvested at 2 different stages and the plant height patterns at different stages, stem elongation patterns, leaf area, proportional biomass allocation to leaves, roots and stem were measured to see how plants changed their growth patterns in response to multiple stresses. Biomass allocation ratios of plants were different between stress-free and single stress treatments. However, biomass ratios of plants between stress-free treatments and treatments with two stresses were similar. Other interesting patterns were observed on the basis of genotype, treatments, life stage, trial and plant size. Results suggest that plants can use a variety of strategies, which are employed depending on their current biomass, environment, genotype, etc., to respond to the same environmental pressures.

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