Banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO: CRISTIANE CARVALHO TEIXEIRA DE SOUZA

Uma banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO de MESTRADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : CRISTIANE CARVALHO TEIXEIRA DE SOUZA
DATE: 11/12/2025
TIME: 09:00
LOCAL: PGDRA/Unir
TITLE:

Carbon Footprint analyses in smallholders dairy farms in Rondonia

KEY WORDS:

Carbon Footprint, Dairy Farming, Family Agriculture, Sustainability, Life Cycle Assessment.

PAGES: 45
BIG AREA: Outra
AREA: Tecnologia e Inovação
SUMMARY:

The present study aims to advance the discussion on carbon footprint in dairy farming by applying the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology to quantify greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in small family-run dairy farms located in the Zona da Mata and Rio Machado territories, in the state of Rondônia, Brazil. The research encompasses farms distributed across the municipalities of Alta Floresta d’Oeste (03), Cacoal (02), Espigão d’Oeste (03), Nova Brasilândia d’Oeste (01), Novo Horizonte d’Oeste (02), and Rolim de Moura (06), totaling 17 production units. The objective is to identify the main sources of GHG emissions and compare farms with different productivity levels, considering the productive and socioeconomic characteristics of regional family agriculture. The methodology is based on the application of LCA to estimate the carbon footprint per functional unit of milk produced, using the IPCC-AR6 (2022) method as a reference, which allows for a detailed analysis of the relative contributions of each stage of the production system. The comparative analysis between high- and low-productivity farms revealed significant differences in zootechnical indicators and productive efficiency. High-productivity farms showed greater total milk production, higher daily output, and better yield per cow, reflecting superior technical efficiency and improved nutritional, sanitary, and reproductive management practices. In contrast, variables related to herd size and structure did not differ between groups, indicating that productivity is more closely linked to technological level and management quality than to system scale. Regarding GHG emissions estimated via LCA, the carbon footprint was lower in more efficient farms, confirming the inverse relationship between productivity and emission intensity. Lower enteric methane emissions and reduced emissions from manure management highlight the role of adequate nutritional strategies and waste management in mitigating GHGs, while categories such as on/off-farm feed production, fuel use, electricity, and transport showed no relevant differences. Overall, the results demonstrate that more efficient dairy systems exhibit better environmental performance, with reduced emission intensity per unit of milk produced. Thus, sustainable intensification—grounded in good management practices, balanced nutrition, and efficient manure management—emerges as a key strategy to reduce the carbon footprint and promote the sustainability of family dairy farming systems in the Zona da Mata and Rio Machado regions of Rondônia.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Presidente - ***.305.370-** - LUIZ FRANCISCO MACHADO PFEIFER - EMBRAPA
Interna - ***.237.228-** - ANA KARINA DIAS SALMAN - EMBRAPA
Interna - 2363379 - GLEIMIRIA BATISTA DA COSTA MATOS
Interno - 3063165 - DIEGO HENRIQUE DE ALMEIDA
Externo ao Programa - 2081196 - AFONSO MARIA DAS CHAGAS - UNIR