**List of acronyms**

(2005, 2007, 2008), Zullo et al. (2006) and Assad et al. (2004) indicate that the higher elevation regions with colder and milder climate may become low climate risk areas for most part of

A Comprehensive Survey of International Soybean Research - Genetics, Physiology, Agronomy and Nitrogen

According to Pinto and Assad (2008) the worst prediction for soybean in 2020, considering the climate scenario A2 made by the IPCC (2001) showed a 24% reduction in the low risk area for soybean cultivation in Brazil. A more recent study (Pinto and Assad, 2012) using a combination of 23 Global Climate Models (GCMs) indicated by AR4 WGI Report IPCC (2007) and three Regional Climate Models (RCMs) - PRECIS (Jones et al. 2004), ETA (Pisni‐ chenko and Tarasova 2009) and BRAMS (Freitas et al. 2009) showed a decrease in the low risk area of the country also of 24% in the pessimistic scenario and of 13% in the optimistic one. The Brazilian government estimates a production of 86 million tons of soybean in 2020 without taking into account the reduction of low risk areas due to climate change. In this case, close to 20 million tons will be lost if the temperature continues to increase, or, in other

words, at actual prices of US \$500/ton, Brazil will lose close to US\$ 10 billion/year.

However, at the same time, scientists are developing new soybean genotypes and cultivars which are more tolerant to high temperatures and droughts. The studies are at an advanced stage, but it should be underlined that, even if they result in more resistant plants, there is a limit to how far genetic improvement can go. The alterations are capable of handling the problem with up to a 2°C temperature rise. Above that mark, the plants begin to have diffi‐ culties in photosynthesizing, demanding the adoption of other measures. One alternative to this limitation could be the so-called second generation crops of Genetically Modified Or‐ ganism (GMO).Instead of just being herbicide-tolerant or pest-resistant, these would be

This proposal aims to find out plants that are naturally more tolerant for high temperatures and water shortages and use their genes to produce more resistant farm crops. Embrapa Cerrados is analyzing typical species of the biome which are more adapted to the character‐

The researchers have already identified five plants (broadleaf pauterra, small-leaf pau-terra, pacari, faveiro and sucupirapreta) which occur in over 80% of the biome, suggesting a high adaptive capacity. The next step is to isolate the genes which give them these characteristics. Similar studies are also being planned for the Caatinga region. The value of the biodiversity

Plant breeding research developed by Embrapa Soja at Londrina, Parana has already showed a prospective tolerant cultivar (Figure 4). Using the same water content in the soil (2.5%) the modified cultivar shows a normal development when compared to a normal com‐

The general purpose of this study is to show the current potential of national agriculture to mitigate some problems related to global warming and to adapt the soybean research pro‐ gram accordingly. The purpose is to aid researchers in avoiding the potential problems that

of the two biomes is yet another argument for the prevention of its deforestation.

could occur as global warming continues to increase at its current pace.

crop production as temperatures increase with global warming.

more suited to severe environmental conditions.

mercial soybean.

Relationships

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istic variations in temperature and rainfall in the region.

BRAMS: Brazilian Developments on the Regional Atmospheric Modelling System) CONAB: National Supply Company EMBRAPA: Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation ETA: Greek Letter - Weather Forecast Model FAPRI: Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute GCMs: Global Climate Models GDP: Gross Domestic Product GMO: Genetically Modified Organisms IPCC: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change PRECIS: Providing Regional Climates for Impacts Studies RDMs: Regional Climate Models WGI: Working Group I
