Economic and Environmental Assessment Using Emergy of Sheep Production in Brazil

Beatriz Queiróz dos Reis, Danny Alexander Rojas Moreno, Rafael Araújo Nacimento, Vitória Toffolo Luiz, Laya Kannan Silva Alves, Biagio Fernando Giannetti and Augusto Hauber Gameiro
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Beatriz Queiróz dos Reis: School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Sao Paulo, Pirassununga 13635-900, Brazil
Danny Alexander Rojas Moreno: Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of Sao Paulo, Pirassununga 13635-900, Brazil
Rafael Araújo Nacimento: School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Sao Paulo, Pirassununga 13635-900, Brazil
Vitória Toffolo Luiz: Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of Sao Paulo, Pirassununga 13635-900, Brazil
Laya Kannan Silva Alves: School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Sao Paulo, Pirassununga 13635-900, Brazil
Biagio Fernando Giannetti: Laboratory of Production and Environment, Paulista University, Sao Paulo 04026-000, Brazil
Augusto Hauber Gameiro: School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Sao Paulo, Pirassununga 13635-900, Brazil

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 21, 1-14

Abstract: This study aimed to evaluate the economic and environmental performance of a Brazilian sheep production system (in the São José do Rio Preto (SJRP) region). The cost of production and the emergy indicators were calculated, and compared with other scientific results. The study was divided into three stages: (i) construction of the conceptual model; (ii) transformation of all resources and stocks by unit emergy value; and (iii) analysis of emergy indices. For emergy analysis, imported purchased inputs (P) represented 59.84% of all emergy, in which soy and corn contributed 16.14% and 11.38%, respectively. These inputs also contributed significantly to the economic cost of production as 14.63% and 12.55% of the total cost, respectively. Compared to other production systems, the SJRP system presented a lower emergy production rate and a higher environmental load rate, reducing the emergy sustainability index. In addition, it had the highest level of investment in emergy, suggesting that its sustainability is inferior to other referenced production systems. However, the SJRP system had the lowest emergy exchange ratio, indicating that this system is the closest to a fair price. In conclusion, the system must be reconsidered to become more sustainable; mainly with regard to the confinement of lambs that consume large amounts of concentrate (corn and soybean) from outside the system.

Keywords: emergy accounting; farm management; production costs; sheep production (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:21:p:11595-:d:660867

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