Author(s): ALMEIDA, R. G. de; MACEDO, M. C. M.; GOMES, R. da C.; LAURA, V. A.; BUNGENSTAB, D. J.

Summary: Abstract - Beef farming can have important environmental impacts especially related to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions when associated to deforestation, low yields and pasture degradation. However, under good practices, its benefits go far beyond food production and carbon sequestration itself, being part of human life since ancient times. Regarding carbon, grazing cattle has great potential for fixing C in the soil, which is mostly disregarded by simplistic assessments. Today, Brazilian cattle farming is under pressure from the international community, since they link it to deforestation and increasing negative impacts related to GHG emissions. This article addresses Brazilian integrated crop-livestock systems (ICLS) developed for more efficient beef cattle production through land saving and good agricultural practices, reducing environmental impact and carbon emissions, under a conservationist approach towards a zero-carbon economic activity, following the global agenda for tackling climate change.

Publication year: 2023

Types of publication: Paper in annals and proceedings

Unit: Embrapa Beef Cattle

Keywords: Carbon sequestration, Carbono, Climate change, Gado de Corte, Greenhouse gas emissions, Impacto Ambiental, Mudança Climática, Sequestro de carbono