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Sustainability Assessment of Intensification Levels of Brazilian Smallholder Integrated Dairy-Crop Production Systems: An Emergy and Economic-Based Decision Approach

Author

Listed:
  • Vitória Toffolo Luiz

    (Department of Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga 13635-900, Brazil)

  • Rafael Araújo Nacimento

    (Department of Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga 13635-900, Brazil)

  • Vanessa Theodoro Rezende

    (Department of Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga 13635-900, Brazil)

  • Taynara Freitas Avelar de Almeida

    (Department of Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga 13635-900, Brazil)

  • Juliana Vieira Paz

    (Department of Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga 13635-900, Brazil)

  • Biagio Fernando Giannetti

    (Laboratory of Production and Environment, Paulista University, São Paulo 04026-002, Brazil)

  • Augusto Hauber Gameiro

    (Department of Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga 13635-900, Brazil)

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the sustainability of integrated dairy–crop production systems by employing emergy and economic theory perspectives, and to identify strategies to improve the intensification of dairy production systems. A case study of a small Brazilian dairy production system (PROP) was created to assess dairy herd feed exchanges as a sustainability pathway. Three scenarios were proposed for the examination of a dairy production system: extensive (EXT); semi-intensive (SIS); and intensive (INT). The Interlink Decision Making Index (IDMI) was used to compare sustainability among them. The PROP demonstrated higher environmental performance than the other scenarios (ESI = 1.30, 0.65, 0.95, and 0.71, for PROP, INT, SIS, and EXT, respectively); however, PROP’s profitability was 1.6 times lower than that of SIS and INT, although PROP’s profitability was higher than that of the EXT scenario. Notably, the IDMI identified the SIS scenario as having the best sustainability among those studied. We concluded that the consideration of the energy contribution for feed ingredients yields a more equitable evaluation of environmental performance in integrated dairy–crop production systems, which leads us to propose the following suggestions: (i) target higher profit performance by changing extensive dairy systems to semi-intensive systems that utilize feed ingredients produced at the farm, and (ii) promote higher environmental performance by transforming intensive dairy systems to semi-intensive systems that are directed more toward maintaining environmental factors. In our view, public policies should focus on bonifications that upgrade dairy systems to promote and utilize best practices for dairy–crop integration.

Suggested Citation

  • Vitória Toffolo Luiz & Rafael Araújo Nacimento & Vanessa Theodoro Rezende & Taynara Freitas Avelar de Almeida & Juliana Vieira Paz & Biagio Fernando Giannetti & Augusto Hauber Gameiro, 2023. "Sustainability Assessment of Intensification Levels of Brazilian Smallholder Integrated Dairy-Crop Production Systems: An Emergy and Economic-Based Decision Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-20, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:5:p:4674-:d:1089040
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    References listed on IDEAS

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