In 2000, the conversion of the Cerrado savanna in Brazil into soybean croplands marked a significant shift in agricultural practices and land use. This transformation was driven by increasing global demand for soy, which has become a key ingredient in animal feed and biofuels. The expansion of agriculture into the Cerrado raised concerns about environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, and the impact on indigenous communities, highlighting the complex interplay between economic development and ecological sustainability.

The conversion of the Cerrado savanna to soy in 2000 has been critiqued in Brazilian poetry addressing biodiversity loss due to agribusiness. Poets like Adélia Prado have woven narratives that reflect on the relationship between land, culture, and environmental stewardship.