ABC Corte program: sustainable intensification of beef production

Abstract

This study evaluates the main results of the ABC Corte program, which aligns with the 2030 Agenda and COP30 goals for low‑carbon agriculture. The program promotes the sustainable intensification of pasture-based beef production through technologies for pasture recovery and management, reducing pressure on new land and contributing to climate change adaptation and greenhouse gas mitigation. In 2024, the intervention yielded significant financial results: a gross margin of R$ 2,666.40 ha^-1 per year, a benefit-cost ratio of 8.07, an internal rate of return of 203.11%, and a net present value of R$ 27,040,478.40 per production year. In the same year, mean productivity reached 978.22 kg live weight per hectare per year, representing an increase fivefold over the baseline, and 3.7 times above the intensification potential. The Ambitec-Agro system reveals significant positive impacts across animal welfare and health, soil quality, and water use efficiency indicators. The intervention results in an estimated land-saving effect of 4.04 ha for each hectare where it is successfully applied.