Brazil's no-till farming covers 45 million hectares

The no-till farming system (Sistema de Plantio Direto) now occupies approximately 45 million hectares in Brazil, accounting for 65% of the country's temporary crop area. This represents an increase from 2017, when the IBGE Agricultural Census recorded over 33 million hectares.

On a broader scale, the system covers 86 million hectares in South America and roughly 300 million hectares globally. Key international practitioners include Argentina, the United States, Canada, Australia, and China. The technique, which focuses on minimal soil disturbance, maintaining plant cover, and crop rotation, was introduced in northern Paraná over five decades ago.

Benefits of the method include reduced fuel consumption, fewer mechanized operations, and improved soil water infiltration and retention. However, experts note that incomplete application of the system's principles—such as insufficient crop rotation or inadequate vegetation cover—remains a challenge for farmers.