Global food crisis: The cost of soy - in pictures

An aerial view of soy fields near Mariscal Estagarribia, Boqueron, part of the dry Chaco region of Paraguay. Farmers are cutting into the second largest forest in Latin America outside the Amazon, which is threatening the lifestyle of some of the world's last uncontacted people and the local wildlife Photograph: Glyn Thomas/Friends of the Earth

Recently deforested trees being burned near Mariscal Estagarribia, part of the dry Chaco, Boqueron region of Paraguay. Agriculture in this dry region is turning the vast virgin forest into bleak prairie-style farmland Photograph: Glyn Thomas/Friends of the Earth

Cerro Leon, in the National Park of Defensores del Chaco in Paraguay, which has not experienced such deforestation Photograph: Glyn Thomas/Friends of the Earth

Cattle ranching in recently deforested areas of Colonia Yeruti in Curuguaty, Paraguay. Deforestation is evident throughout the area. Increasingly, land is being cleared to grow soy to feed animals. Changing diets have increased the demand for meat Photograph: Glyn Thomas/Friends of the Earth

Fields of soy near Ciudad del Este in Paraguay Photograph: Glyn Thomas/Friends of the Earth

Soy beans growing in a field in Alto Parana, Paraguay. Latin America's rainforests are being destroyed by huge plantations of soy - mostly grown to feed animals in factory farms in Europe and elsewhere. In Paraguay soy now covers as much as 30% of the country's eastern departments Photograph: Glyn Thomas/Friends of the Earth

Seeds being sown in a field in Pirapey, Paraguay. Intensive agricultural techniques in the country mean some farmers are able to produce three crops a year Photograph: Glyn Thomas/Friends of the Earth

The soy fields surrounding this church in Alto Parana department breach government safety regulations. The ban on planting within 50m of public buildings and paths is meant to prevent people coming into contact with toxic chemicals used on crops Photograph: Glyn Thomas/Friends of the Earth

An abandoned house in what has now become a soy field in Alto Parana, Paraguay. The increase in soy fields and rate of deforestation is having a human cost, as people are being forced off their land to make way for the crops Photograph: Glyn Thomas/Friends of the Earth

Indigenous people from Caaguazu, in Paraguay, have been made homeless by deforestation and are now demanding new land from the government. Some of them are now having to live in Plaza Uruguaya in Asuncion, the capital of Paraguay Photograph: Glyn Thomas/Friends of the Earth

Temporary roadside shacks lived in by people who have been displaced as their land has been taken over for soy fields in Alto Parana, Paraguay Photograph: Glyn Thomas/Friends of the Earth

Petrona Villasboa's son Silvino Talavera, 11, died after being sprayed with pesticide while riding his bike on a public track between two soy fields, 80m from his home in Pirapey, Itapua, in 2003 Photograph: Glyn Thomas/Friends of the Earth

Cristina Gonzalez with her son, Michael Ojeola, age one, and daughter Genylucia, aged five, who were taken to hospital with symptoms following pesticide spraying near her home in Colonia Yeruti, Curuguaty, Paraguay Photograph: Glyn Thomas/Friends of the Earth