Productivity and economic value added drive swine production sustainability

Abstract Context Swine production plays a vital role in economic development; however, balancing productivity with environmental and financial sustainability remains a challenge. Objective This study introduces an integrated approach combining Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Economic Value Added (EV...

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Main Authors: Rita Therezinha Rolim Pietramale, Carolina Obregão da Rosa, Daiane Pereira de Souza, Gabriela Vilela dos Santos Mantovani, Fabiana Ribeiro Caldara, Clandio Favarini Ruviaro
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2025-08-01
Series:Discover Sustainability
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-025-01630-x
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author Rita Therezinha Rolim Pietramale
Carolina Obregão da Rosa
Daiane Pereira de Souza
Gabriela Vilela dos Santos Mantovani
Fabiana Ribeiro Caldara
Clandio Favarini Ruviaro
author_facet Rita Therezinha Rolim Pietramale
Carolina Obregão da Rosa
Daiane Pereira de Souza
Gabriela Vilela dos Santos Mantovani
Fabiana Ribeiro Caldara
Clandio Favarini Ruviaro
author_sort Rita Therezinha Rolim Pietramale
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Context Swine production plays a vital role in economic development; however, balancing productivity with environmental and financial sustainability remains a challenge. Objective This study introduces an integrated approach combining Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Economic Value Added (EVA) to assess eco-efficiency in Brazilian piglet production, a stage often underrepresented in sustainability research. Methods A Life Cycle Assessment was conducted to quantify environmental impacts, and EVA was used to evaluate financial performance. The analysis relied on data from 2016 to 2021, including greenhouse gas emissions, land use, and economic returns. Results and conclusions Results indicate that improvements in sow productivity led to lower GHG emissions per kilogram of piglet and that eco-efficiency varied with market conditions. In 2021, increased productivity and favorable prices resulted in positive EVA and a 7.8% land use reduction. Significance This study underscores the value of integrating environmental and economic assessments to support decision-making in swine systems. By applying the LCA–EVA framework to piglet production, this research provides insights to enhance the sustainability of pork value chains.
format Article
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institution Kabale University
issn 2662-9984
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Springer
record_format Article
series Discover Sustainability
spelling doaj-art-12005d7ca05444f7b369f2064f331cd62025-08-20T04:01:43ZengSpringerDiscover Sustainability2662-99842025-08-016112510.1007/s43621-025-01630-xProductivity and economic value added drive swine production sustainabilityRita Therezinha Rolim Pietramale0Carolina Obregão da Rosa1Daiane Pereira de Souza2Gabriela Vilela dos Santos Mantovani3Fabiana Ribeiro Caldara4Clandio Favarini Ruviaro5Animal Science Postgraduate Program, Federal University of Grande Dourados (UFGD)Agribusiness Postgraduate Program, Federal University of Grande Dourados (UFGD)Agribusiness Postgraduate Program, Federal University of Grande Dourados (UFGD)Agribusiness Postgraduate Program, Federal University of Grande Dourados (UFGD)Animal Science Postgraduate Program, Federal University of Grande Dourados (UFGD)Animal Science Postgraduate Program, Federal University of Grande Dourados (UFGD)Abstract Context Swine production plays a vital role in economic development; however, balancing productivity with environmental and financial sustainability remains a challenge. Objective This study introduces an integrated approach combining Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Economic Value Added (EVA) to assess eco-efficiency in Brazilian piglet production, a stage often underrepresented in sustainability research. Methods A Life Cycle Assessment was conducted to quantify environmental impacts, and EVA was used to evaluate financial performance. The analysis relied on data from 2016 to 2021, including greenhouse gas emissions, land use, and economic returns. Results and conclusions Results indicate that improvements in sow productivity led to lower GHG emissions per kilogram of piglet and that eco-efficiency varied with market conditions. In 2021, increased productivity and favorable prices resulted in positive EVA and a 7.8% land use reduction. Significance This study underscores the value of integrating environmental and economic assessments to support decision-making in swine systems. By applying the LCA–EVA framework to piglet production, this research provides insights to enhance the sustainability of pork value chains.https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-025-01630-xAnimal productionEconomics of productionEnvironmental impactLife cycle assessmentPig farmingPiglet production
spellingShingle Rita Therezinha Rolim Pietramale
Carolina Obregão da Rosa
Daiane Pereira de Souza
Gabriela Vilela dos Santos Mantovani
Fabiana Ribeiro Caldara
Clandio Favarini Ruviaro
Productivity and economic value added drive swine production sustainability
Discover Sustainability
Animal production
Economics of production
Environmental impact
Life cycle assessment
Pig farming
Piglet production
title Productivity and economic value added drive swine production sustainability
title_full Productivity and economic value added drive swine production sustainability
title_fullStr Productivity and economic value added drive swine production sustainability
title_full_unstemmed Productivity and economic value added drive swine production sustainability
title_short Productivity and economic value added drive swine production sustainability
title_sort productivity and economic value added drive swine production sustainability
topic Animal production
Economics of production
Environmental impact
Life cycle assessment
Pig farming
Piglet production
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-025-01630-x
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AT carolinaobregaodarosa productivityandeconomicvalueaddeddriveswineproductionsustainability
AT daianepereiradesouza productivityandeconomicvalueaddeddriveswineproductionsustainability
AT gabrielavileladossantosmantovani productivityandeconomicvalueaddeddriveswineproductionsustainability
AT fabianaribeirocaldara productivityandeconomicvalueaddeddriveswineproductionsustainability
AT clandiofavariniruviaro productivityandeconomicvalueaddeddriveswineproductionsustainability