Ecoeficiência em sistemas de produção de frangos de corte

Abstract

The consumption of chicken meat as a source of animal protein is increasing. Largescale confinement systems are responsible for meeting this demand. As a result, the consumption of inputs and the environmental changes that these systems provide intensify. The production chain of Brazilian broiler chicken is characterized by a system of integration between producer and the agroindustry, and both are inserted in a globalized market, where the imported inputs and export much of the production is exported to foreign markets. To evaluate the economic and environmental performance of production systems responsible for representing this food supply, an eco-efficiency assessment was made. The eco-efficiency assessment addressed two methods for quantifying environmental impacts and valuation of product systems, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Economic Value Added (EVA). The approach comprised the stages of agricultural production, breeding and fattening of chickens. Four products in three different systems were evaluated, Griller, Broiler and heavy broiler chickens produced in Negative pressure automated dark house aviaries, and the same chickens produced in Conventional positive pressure aviaries. Also, for comparison an alternative system of positive pressure was used to represent the production of organic chickens that serves a niche market but receives attention for studies in other countries. The Functional Unit (UF) was 1 kg of live chicken ready to be shipped to the slaughterhouse, and the method for Life Cycle Impact Assessment (AICV) was done with CML 2. The results showed that most of the impacts comes from the agricultural stage of grain production for the rations, and from the use of electric power to feed the equipment of the barracks. Conventional systems presented negative results for the generation of economic value and environmental impacts like the Dark House systems. Chickens produced in organic systems positively outperformed the other products in terms of economic valuation but had results of potential environmental impact much higher. It was possible to conclude that for conventional systems special attention needs to be paid regarding the return on investment, especially in relation to rates for capital remuneration, to provide new ventures that, in addition to smaller environmental impacts, can also generate greater economic profit.