A new model for the world’s breadbasket

For the past decade, much of the world's increasing demand for food, fuel and fiber has been met by farmers in South America, Asia and Australia.

Brazil, for example, now accounts for one-third of the world's soybean exports, second only to the United States. Remarkably, Brazilian farmers have been able to accomplish this growth on less than 6% of Brazil's arable land, much of it in the formerly uncultivated cerrado--a vast, windswept plain that lies almost completely below the equator. And they've done it sustainably, efficiently and without government subsidies. To meet the needs of our growing planet, farmers and governments around the world are paying close attention to the emerging Brazilian model.

In this month's Spotlight, we take a closer look at what's driving the increased production, how sustainable practices are being integrated, the outlook for developing countries and what Monsanto is doing to help.