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Local productive arrangements for biodiesel production in Brazil - Environmental assessment of small-holder's integrated oleaginous crops management

Stachetti Rodrigues G., Aparecida Rodrigues I., De Almeida Buschinelli C.C., Antônio Ligo M., Moreno Pires A.. 2009. Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Tropics and SubTropics, 110 (1) : p. 59-71.

Sustainability assessments were carried out in small-holders' farms in four territories where productive arrangements have been organized for production of minor oleaginous crops under the Brazilian biodiesel program. The study aimed at checking local impacts of the biodiesel productive chains at the rural establishment scale, and promoting the environmental performance of the selected farms, henceforth proposed as sustainable management demonstration units. Assessments were carried out with the APOIA-NovoRural system, which integrates 62 objective and quantitative indicators related to five sustainability dimensions: i) Landscape Ecology, ii) Environmental Quality (Atmosphere, Water and Soil), iii) Socio-cultural Values, iv) Economic Values and v) Management and Administration. The main results point out that, in general, the eco-logical dimensions of sustainability, that is, the Landscape Ecology and Atmosphere, Water, and Soil quality indicators, show adequate field conditions, seemingly not yet negatively affected by increases in chemical inputs and natural resources use predicted as important potential impacts of the agro-energy sector. The Economic Values indica-tors have been favorably influenced in the studied farms, due to a steadier demand and improved prices for the oleaginous crops. On the other hand, valuable positive consequences expected for favoring farmers' market insertion, such as improved Socio-cultural Values and Management & Administration indicators, are still opportunities to be materialized. The Environmental Management Reports issued to the farmers, based on the presented sustainability assessment procedures, offer valuable documentation and communication means for consolidating the organizational influence of the local productive arrangements studied. These productive arrangements were shown to be determinant for the selection of crop associations and diversification, as well as for the provision of technical assistance and the stabili

Mots-clés : biocarburant; plante oléagineuse; phaseolus vulgaris; ricinus communis; zea mays; brassica rapa; petite exploitation agricole; elaeis guineensis; brésil

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