Local factors in the competitiveness of the soybean sector in Brazil

This paper discuss some of the factors of progress of the Brazilian soybean complex, especially in the north part of the Cerrados regions which are in contact with Amazonia forest. The Mato Grosso and Para cases are analysed. They are to-day at a different stage of development: Mato Grosso is now the first soybean producing state of Brazil and is building a big crushing industry Para is at the beginning of the production process. Both have a high productivity for soybean (more than 30 q/ha). They need the help of the State to build new transport infrastructures and they could both have environmental problems with the excess use of pesticides. An original data processing is used for analysing the spatial dynamics of the soybean production.