Environmental Impacts of the Brazilian Egg Industry: Life Cycle Assessment of the Battery Cage Production System.

Brazil stands as one of the world's leading producers of animal protein, ranking sixth in global egg production. However, estimated growth in production demand, along with environmental impacts, represents a potential threat to the sustainability of the food system. Methods for assessing and quantifying the environmental impacts generated by Brazilian egg production remain scarce, lacking current reports on comparative effects or guiding standards. The objective of this study was to conduct a life cycle assessment from cradle to farm gate, adhering to ISO 14040 and 14044 standards, for the battery cage egg production systems and associated products in Brazil, with the aim of supporting and promoting sustainability improvements in the Brazilian egg industry. The entire life cycle modeling and process sustainability analysis were executed using the openLCA software, integrated with the Ecoinvent database. Emissions related to egg production yielded results of 65.06 kg SO2 eq., 27.74 kg N eq., 3086.71 kg CO2 eq., 75,152.66 CTUe, 2.75 × 10-5 CFC-11 eq., and 10,044.68 kg MJ eq. per ton of eggs produced. These findings can serve as comparative benchmarks for future studies and for analyzing data across different egg production systems in Brazil.

Life Cycle Assessment Project for the Brazilian Egg Industry.

Brazil is among the ten largest egg producers in the world. The domestic consumption of Brazilian eggs is 99.6%, the rest being exported to more than 82 countries, with an expectation of growth in the foreign market. The Brazilian egg industry has evolved considerably in recent decades, incorporating new technologies and smart practices. However, there is no assessment of how production could become more sustainable over the years. The LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) approach aims to recognize the polluting potential, identify the environmental impacts generated and reduce these impacts throughout production. On a global scale, researchers approach LCA as a constructive and quantitative technique, and there is great interest in implementing an LCA for the Brazilian egg production sector. With the aim of introducing the LCA methodology to the Brazilian egg industry, this review presents the concept and accounting structure of LCA through LCI (Life Cycle Inventory) and LCIA (Life Cycle Impact Assessment), based on the ISO 14040 and 14044:2006 standards, to quantify the environmental performance of production and identify areas for future improvement, thus promoting the environmental footprint of the Brazilian egg industry.

The Panoramic View of Ecuadorian Soil Nutrients (Deficit/Toxicity) from Different Climatic Regions and Their Possible Influence on the Metabolism of Important Crops.

Soil nutrients influence all stages (reproduction, growth, and development) of a plant species' life, and it is known that the deficit and/or toxicity of one or more nutrients has negative effects on the production of crops of commercial interest. Ecuador represents one of the "mega-diverse" countries in the world, with an agricultural sector of great importance, due to its contribution to the country's economy. This review provides a panoramic view of soil nutrients from different climatic regions of Ecuador and revises the importance of knowledge about the possible influence of nutrients from the soil on the plant metabolism able to influence the crop resistance against pathogens or to enrich the biological characteristics of these crops.

Development of the organic production in Ukraine: problems and perspectives / Desenvolvimento da produção orgânica na Ucrânia: problemas e perspectivas

This review article examines the legal support and proper state support of organic production in Ukraine, substantiation of the potential and obstacles to the development of organic production, as well as proposals for improving the current legislation. This review also analyzes the modern market of organic products, which, in terms of growing consumer demand for environmentally friendly and safe for human health, is very perspective for Ukraine. The increase in the area of agricultural land allocated for organic production, the number of domestic organic operators, and the ever-increasing volume of exports of organic products to other countries indicate a steady trend of growth and further development of this market. However, it is noted that the need to form the infrastructure of the organic products market still remains important. In addition, the problem of improving the system of standardization and certification of production, processing, storage and transportation of organic products, as well as the introduction of an effective control system over the sale of organic raw materials, are the main challenges to be solved.

O artigo examina o respaldo legal e o devido apoio estatal à produção orgânica na Ucrânia, comprovação do potencial e obstáculos ao desenvolvimento da produção orgânica, bem como propostas para melhorar a legislação atual da Ucrânia. O artigo também analisa o mercado moderno de produtos orgânicos, que, em termos de crescente demanda dos consumidores por produtos ecologicamente corretos e seguros para a saúde humana, é uma grande perspectiva para o país. O aumento da área de terras agrícolas destinadas à produção orgânica, o número de operadores orgânicos domésticos e o volume cada vez maior de exportações de produtos orgânicos para outros países indicam uma tendência constante de crescimento e desenvolvimento deste mercado. Nota-se que a necessidade de formar uma infraestrutura de mercado própria para produtos orgânicos. Além disso, deve ser resolvido o problema da melhoria do sistema de padronização e certificação da produção, processamento, armazenamento e transporte de produtos orgânicos, bem como a introdução de um sistema eficaz de controle sobre a venda de matérias-primas orgânicas.

Do agricultural activities induce carbon emissions? The BRICS experience.

This study investigates the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis for Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) over the period 1990-2014, while considering agricultural activities, energy use, trade openness and mobile use as driving forces of environmental degradation. The empirical results verify an inverted U-shaped connection between carbon emissions and economic growth. This study confirms the unfriendly impact of agriculture on the environment. Electricity consumption and trade openness likewise exhibit similar impacts on carbon emissions. Mobile use however reduces pollution. A unique revelation from this study is that the interaction between electricity consumption and agricultural activities has an additional pernicious effect on the environment. The methodologies applied for testing the impact of selected independent variables on carbon emissions in BRICS are the Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares (DOLS) and the Fully Modify Ordinary Least Square (FMOLS) for long run regression. Empirical evidence confirms that agriculture exerts a negative impact on the environment in BRICS countries. This study therefore recommends the adoption of cleaner energy processes and enabling high-tech and clean foreign investment.

Microalgae biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles for application in the control of agricultural pathogens.

The occurrence of diseases in cultivars has caused significant losses in global food production. The advancement of nanobiotechnology makes it possible to obtain new products to be used in the control of pathogens in cultivars. Silver nanoparticles can be synthesized by microalgae and are widely known for their antimicrobial activity. In addition, the biomass produced in microalgal culture for the biosynthesis of the nanoparticles also demonstrates antimicrobial properties, as it can increase the antibacterial and antifungal potential of the silver nanoparticles. In this context, this article addresses the use of microalgae to biosynthesize silver nanoparticles simultaneously with biomass production. In addition, we demonstrate the antimicrobial potential of these nanomaterials, as well as of the microalgal biomass produced in biosynthesis, to use in the control of pathogens in agriculture.

Challenges of the Colombian agricultural sector after the signature of the commercial promotion agreement between the United States and Colombia / Desafíos del sector agropecuario colombiano tras la firma del acuerdo de promoción comercial entre estados unidos y colombia

RESUMEN El objetivo del presente artículo es determinar cómo se vieron afectadas las condiciones laborales del sector agropecuario colombiano, dentro del marco de efectos sociales, tras la firma del acuerdo de promoción comercial entre Colombia y Estados Unidos. Para esto, se realizó una adaptación macroeconómica de los indicadores GRI versión G4 en la categoría desempeño social. Esta adaptación permitió analizar la información sectorial y aplicarlos en la población laboral del sector agropecuario colombiano. La metodología utilizada fue cualitativa con énfasis en un método de lista de comprobación y análisis de indicadores, y se encontraron dos resultados importantes. En primer lugar, que el acuerdo comercial entre ambos países es superficial al momento de salvaguardar las condiciones laborales del sector, sin profundizar en aspectos específicos que reglamenten el contexto laboral. En segundo lugar, se evidenció que a pesar de los aumentos significativos en las tasas de contrataciones, las afiliaciones a entidades prestadoras de salud o administradoras de riesgos profesionales de empleados, la mayor parte del sector agropecuario colombiano opera bajo la informalidad. Finalmente, se puede afirmar que las condiciones laborales del sector agropecuario colombiano, dentro del marco de efectos sociales, tras la firma del acuerdo de promoción comercial entre Colombia y Estados Unidos no se vieron afectadas de manera positiva. La informalidad y la falta de regulación sigue siendo un factor común en el sector.

ABSTRACT The objective of this article is to determine how the labor conditions of the Colombian agricultural sector were affected, within the framework of social effects, after the signing of the Trade Promotion Agreement between Colombia and the United States. For this, a macroeconomic adaptation of GRI indicators version G4 in the social performance category was made. This adaptation made it possible to analyze sectoral information and apply it to the labor population of the Colombian agricultural sector. The methodology used was qualitative with emphasis on a checklist method and analysis of indicators, and two important results were found. First, that the trade agreement between both countries is superficial at the moment of safeguarding the labor conditions of the sector, without going into specific aspects that regulate the labor context. Secondly, it was evident that despite the significant increases in contracting rates, affiliations with health providers or managers of occupational risks for employees, most of the Colombian agricultural sector operates under informality. Finally, it can be affirmed that the labor conditions of the Colombian agricultural sector, within the framework of social effects, after the signing of the Trade Promotion Agreement between Colombia and the United States were not affected in a positive manner. Informality and lack of regulation continues to be a common factor in the sector.

Accesibilidad del Financiamiento Agropecuario en Ameca, Jalisco, México / Accessibility to Agricultural Financing in Ameca, Jalisco, Mexico / Acessibilidade do Financiamento Agrícola em Ameca, Jalisco, México

RESUMEN La agricultura en México se ha polarizado en campesina y empresarial, esta última se distingue por ser más tecnificada. Un factor importante para pasar de la agricultura campesina a una empresarial es el crédito refaccionario, sin embargo, el sector agropecuario ha sufrido escasez en financiamiento debido a los riesgos que presenta el mismo; estos hacen que los intermediarios financieros tengan incertidumbre sobre el cumplimiento de pago del productor agropecuario y por ende, la mayor parte de sus recursos se dirigen a otros sectores. Por otro lado, también los productores agropecuarios tienen incertidumbre, ya que hacer una inversión en un ámbito riesgoso como la agricultura tiende a que los productores sean adversos al riesgo por lo que no gestionan crédito. No obstante, hay productores que acceden al crédito, los cuales se caracterizan por diferentes factores, mismos que hacen que la incertidumbre del intermediario disminuya y así se otorgue el crédito. En este estudio se indaga a través de un proceso estadístico lineal en los factores del productor que reducen la incertidumbre y provocan un mayor acceso al crédito, el cual demuestra que el tamaño de la unidad productiva, ingreso, seguranza, entre otros, impacta positivamente en el acceso al crédito en una institución formal. CÓDIGOS JEL R51

ABSTRACT Agriculture in Mexico has polarised into peasant and business agriculture, the latter characterised as being more technologically enhanced. An important factor in the transition from peasant agriculture to entrepreneurial agriculture has been that of credit in fixed assets. Regrettably the agricultural sector has suffered from financing shortages due to hazards inherent to the sector inciting uncertainty in financial intermediaries with regards to the fulfilment of payment by the agricultural producer and the redirecting of most of its resources to other sectors. On the other hand, agricultural producers themselves often hesitate when faced with the decision to invest in their unpredictable producers risk adverse, so they do not manage credit. However there are producers who access credit, which are characterized by different factors sector with a proclivity for being risk averse and avoiding loans. Nevertheless, there are those who opt to take the credit route, which is characterised by different factors that reduce the uncertainty of the middlemen who authorise the credit. Through a linear statistical process, this study investigates the factors which reduce uncertainty and increase access to credit within the agricultural sector It will be shown that the size of the productive unit, income, security and other elements, have a positive impact on the granting of credit by a formal institution. JEL CLASSIFICATION R51

RESUMO A agricultura no México foi polarizada em camponesa e empresarial, a segunda se distingue por ser mais tecnificada. Um fator importante na transição da agricultura camponesa para a agrícola empreendedora é o crédito de refacionamento, no entanto, o setor agrícola tem sofrido escassez de financiamento devido aos riscos que apresenta; Estes fazem com que os intermediários financeiros tenham incerteza quanto ao cumprimento do pagamento do produtor agrícola e, portanto, a maior parte de seus recursos é direcionada para outros setores. Por outro lado, os produtores agrícolas também têm incerteza, já que investir em um ambiente arriscado, como a agricultura, tende a tornar os produtores adversos ao risco, de modo que eles não administram o crédito. No entanto, há produtores que acessam crédito, que são caracterizados por diferentes fatores, que causam a incerteza do intermediário para diminuir e, assim, o crédito é concedido. Este estudo investiga através de um processo estatístico linear nos fatores do produtor que reduzem a incerteza e provocam um maior acesso ao crédito, o que mostra que o tamanho da unidade produtiva, renda, seguro, entre outros, impacta positivamente acesso ao crédito em uma instituição formal. CLASSIFICAÇÕES JEL R51