In 2000, large-scale soybean expansion in South America transformed vast areas of the Cerrado and Chaco habitats into agricultural land. This boom in soybean cultivation has significant economic implications, contributing to global food supply but also raising concerns about environmental degradation and biodiversity loss. The expansion reflects broader trends in agricultural practices and land use in response to global demand.

The large-scale soy expansion in South America in 2000 inspired Latin American poetry protesting agribusiness and biodiversity sacrifice. Poets like Pablo Neruda have critiqued the environmental and social consequences of such practices, advocating for a return to sustainable agriculture.