LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT (LCA) OF THE FAMILY FARM PRODUCTION SYSTEMS IN UNAÍ, MG: ECONOMIC RESULTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS

Abstract

To cope with the principles of the sustainable development (economical viability, ecological prudence and social inclusion) is, nowadays, the great challenge of the support institutions to the development. In the case of agricultural research institutions that challenge can be translated in the search for developing technologies that guarantee economical profitability to rural establishments at the same time they reduce environmental impacts. In that context, the goal of this paper is to analyze the relationship between the economical results and environmental impacts of four production systems of family agriculture in the Municipality of Unaí, MG. The study is part of a research project developed by Embrapa Cerrados, in partnership with Brasilia University and INCRA SR-28, with CNPq's financial support. The study used the observation tool of production process denominated "net of reference establishments". The environmental impacts were analyzed using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology. The study evidenced that the most intensive systems in the use of inputs (fertilizers and rations) reach larger economical results but also cause larger environmental impacts. The incorporation of tools as the "net of reference establishments" and LCA in the Research and Development (R&D) projects of the institutions of agricultural research can help overcome the challenge of align agricultural explotation to the principles of the sustainable development.