In the intricate web of global food systems, an eye-opening connection has come into sharp relief: China’s booming appetite for animal protein is deeply intertwined with the agricultural landscapes of Brazil. A groundbreaking study published in Nature Food reveals that the surging demand for meat and other animal-based products in China significantly relies on Brazilian soybean production, a dependency with profound environmental implications. This research, led by Camilla Govoni and Maria Cristina Rulli of Politecnico di Milano in collaboration with experts from China and Brazil, presents an unprecedented analysis of how the flow of agricultural commodities bridges continents, reshaping land use, water consumption, and ecological balances.
China’s dramatic increase in soybean imports, soaring from 6 million tons in 2004 to a staggering 60 million tons by 2020, and peaking at 68 million tons in 2018, underscores the country’s insatiable demand for livestock feed. This surge, primarily driven by the need to sustain its pig, poultry, and aquaculture industries, translates into a massive environmental footprint. The cultivation footprint required to support this trade is nothing short of vast: nearly 17.8 million hectares of land—comparable to the entire country of Uruguay—dedicated to soybean farming, alongside the consumption of over 86 cubic kilometers of rainwater and nearly 0.29 cubic kilometers of irrigation water. Such resource allocation indicates a scale of virtual water export embedded in soy production that has critical ramifications for global hydrological cycles.
The environmental ramifications extend beyond water and land, intersecting with critical issues like deforestation and habitat conversion. Although direct deforestation linked to soy cultivation has been mitigated by initiatives such as the Moratorium on Soya, indirect land use changes remain alarming. The expansion into secondary ecosystems, notably the Cerrado savannah and conversion of degraded pastures, continues to threaten biodiversity and ecosystem services. This indirect soil conversion adds layers of complexity to the socio-environmental impact, revealing a pattern of geographic and ecological displacement driven by global market demands.
At the heart of the analysis lies a nuanced understanding of how nutritional security in one of the world’s most populous nations is contingent on far-flung agricultural practices. The soy-derived feed in China supports nearly 29% of the animal protein intake and contributes about 10% to the total protein content of the national diet. This cross-continental nutritional dependency calls for reevaluation of food system resilience, emphasizing not only supply-side considerations but also the equitable and environmentally sustainable distribution of resources. The study articulates a compelling argument for integrating ecological stewardship with global food security policies.
Water resource management emerges as a focal point of concern given the scale of virtual water export embedded in soybean trade. While Brazil has traditionally been perceived as water-secure, the interplay of climatic shifts, deforestation-driven changes in precipitation regimes, and agricultural intensification paints a more precarious picture. The study highlights the latent risks of hydrological stress in Brazil’s key agricultural regions, where the demand for water, both blue (irrigation) and green (rainfed), increasingly strains local ecosystems. This scenario calls for innovative governance frameworks that address the transboundary nature of water embedded in international trade.
The research is distinguished by its multidisciplinary methodology, combining hydrological modeling, environmental impact assessments, and nutritional analyses to capture the full scope of soy-driven resource flows. The collaboration between experts from Italy, China, and Brazil exemplifies the complex international cooperation necessary to tackle global sustainability challenges. This approach offers a template for future research aiming to disaggregate the interdependencies of food production and environmental change at planetary scales.
Understanding the entwined fate of China’s dietary trends and Brazilian ecosystems challenges traditional perspectives that assign food security and environmental impact to national borders. Instead, it exposes a dynamic, interlinked system where consumer choices, trade policies, and ecological footprints transcend geopolitical boundaries. This revelation calls for an urgent overhaul of governance models to incorporate global environmental externalities into trade and agricultural policy frameworks, facilitating more responsible stewardship of shared planetary resources.
The study’s insights also shed light on the potential limitations and unintended consequences of existing policy instruments. For example, while the Moratorium on Soya has had success in curbing direct deforestation within the Amazon biome, deforestation and habitat loss continue in less regulated regions. This pattern underscores the need for comprehensive landscape-level policies and certifications that address the entire value chain and its indirect impacts, integrating ecosystem conservation with sustainable agricultural intensification.
As the global demand for animal protein shows no signs of abating, particularly in emerging economies, the imperative to reconcile food production with environmental sustainability becomes more urgent. The Brazilian soybean-China nexus stands as a microcosm for broader global challenges—balancing dietary transitions, biodiversity preservation, water security, and equitable resource distribution. It also emphasizes the hidden ecological costs borne by exporting countries, which often remain invisible to consuming populations but manifest as degraded landscapes and compromised ecosystem services.
Camilla Govoni, the study’s lead author, emphasizes the importance of framing agricultural and food production systems within a global governance context. Food systems are not isolated; they are part of an intricate balance that invisibly connects individuals, countries, and environments. Managing this intricate network with foresight and responsibility is essential for building resilient food systems that can withstand shocks like climate change, geopolitical tensions, and economic disruptions, ensuring both nutritional adequacy and environmental integrity.
In conclusion, this pioneering research opens new pathways for understanding the global interdependencies embedded in food production and consumption. It challenges policymakers, industry stakeholders, and consumers alike to recognize the environmental footprints beyond local environments and to advocate for systemic changes that prioritize sustainability at a planetary scale. The trajectory of China’s animal-protein-rich diet is a clarion call to rethink global food systems to safeguard their resilience and the health of ecosystems worldwide.
Subject of Research: Not applicable
Article Title: China’s animal-protein-rich diets are increasingly reliant on Brazil’s land and water resources
News Publication Date: 15-Oct-2025
Web References: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s43016-025-01238-4
References: Govoni, C., Rulli, M.C., Zhuo, L., Marchioni, D.L. (2025). China’s animal-protein-rich diets are increasingly reliant on Brazil’s land and water resources. Nature Food. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-025-01238-4
Image Credits: Politecnico di Milano
Keywords: Land use, Human geography, Land use policy, Terrestrial food webs, Ecology, Habitat loss, Ecological crises, Water resources
