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This research paper by the Climate Policy Initiative/PUC-Rio analyzes the total public cost of rural credit in Brazil between 2023 and 2025. It argues that the actual cost to society is nearly five times higher than the typically reported interest rate subsidies, as it includes tax benefits, public funding sources, and debt renegotiations. The study highlights significant gaps in transparency, low focalization on social and environmental goals, and regulatory asymmetries between different funding sources.

This methodological appendix describes the quantitative models used to analyze access to the National Program for Strengthening Family Agriculture (Pronaf) in Brazilian municipalities, using data from the 2017 Agricultural Census.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI/PUC-Rio) analyzes barriers to accessing the National Program for Strengthening Family Agriculture (Pronaf) in Brazil. It identifies significant regional disparities in credit access, highlighting that technical assistance and rural extension (ATER) and membership in cooperatives are critical determinants for obtaining credit. The study emphasizes that while Pronaf is essential for financial resilience, it must be integrated with complementary public policies to enhance the productive and climate resilience of family farmers.

This report by the Climate Bonds Initiative analyzes methane emissions from the Brazilian cattle sector and evaluates strategic pathways for abatement. It identifies diversification away from cattle, sustainable intensification of pasture systems, and direct methane reduction as the primary levers for reducing the sector's significant contribution to Brazil's greenhouse gas profile.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI/PUC-Rio) analyzes financial flows for the bioeconomy in Brazil between 2021 and 2023. It identifies a significant concentration of funding in planted forests and bioenergy, while highlighting a substantial funding gap for biodiversity-based products and native forests, particularly in the North region.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI/PUC-Rio) analyzes inequalities in access to rural credit for family farmers in Brazil, focusing on the National Program for Strengthening Family Agriculture (Pronaf). It finds that credit access is limited and unevenly distributed, favoring larger properties, the South region, and grain production, while smaller producers and those in the North and Northeast regions remain largely excluded.

This report analyzes the role of rural credit as the primary climate finance instrument for land use in Brazil between 2015 and 2020, detailing the sources of funding, the regulatory framework of the Brazilian Agricultural Plan, and the specific credit lines used to promote low-carbon agriculture.

This 2023 report by the Climate Policy Initiative maps Brazil's agricultural policies for climate mitigation and adaptation, evaluating their alignment with 'just transition' principles. It finds that while a framework exists—largely driven by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa) and the Plano ABC—justice elements are often limited to specific programs like Pronaf ABC+ and PNAPO. The report highlights a critical need to extend technical assistance to small-scale farmers and improve coordination between the ministries of agriculture, agrarian development, environment, and social assistance.

This report examines the high climate risk faced by rural producers in Brazil's Caatinga biome, highlighting that family farmers—who make up 79% of rural properties—are the most vulnerable. It finds that increased aridity leads to significant productivity losses in corn, beans, and livestock, while also correlating with severe long-term social impacts, including higher infant mortality, school delays, and poverty.

This policy brief analyzes two public rural insurance programs in Brazil: the Agricultural Activity Guarantee Program (PROAGRO) and the Rural Insurance Premium Subsidy Program (PSR). The authors find that PROAGRO's design, where the government bears the risk while financial institutions operate the program, creates severe information asymmetries and moral hazard, leading to higher claim rates and increasing costs for the National Treasury. In contrast, the PSR, where private insurers bear the risk, shows greater efficiency and growth, though it struggles to reach small producers. The report recommends migrating resources from PROAGRO to the PSR, improving the training of claims adjusters, and adopting parametric insurance to reduce fraud and monitoring costs.

This policy brief by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) analyzes the distribution channels for rural credit in Brazil. It argues that the current design of financial services, characterized by a complex and geographically uneven network of banks and cooperatives, creates additional uncertainty for farmers. The brief highlights a mismatch between the supply of credit and the actual agricultural potential of different regions, suggesting that simplifying the structure of rural credit could improve policy effectiveness and resource allocation.

This briefing synthesises the IPCC SREX report's findings on climate extremes and the agriculture sector. It highlights that disaster risk is increasing due to higher exposure and vulnerability, particularly in developing countries. Key threats include intensified droughts, heatwaves, and flooding, which cause significant economic losses and threaten food security. The document advocates for 'climate-smart' agriculture, improved disaster risk management, and a combination of short-term coping strategies and long-term structural adaptations to build resilience.