Sistemas de produção sustentáveis no manejo de pastagens na bovinocultura de leite e corte: diagnóstico participativo em um assentamento de reforma agrária no Triângulo Mineiro

Abstract

Brazil stands out globally in beef and milk production and export, playing a significant role in the country's positive trade balance. However, the national livestock sector relies primarily on pastures, a large portion of which show some degree of degradation, particularly within the Cerrado biome. In this context, appropriate management practices and the adoption of sustainable production systems-such as pasture rehabilitation, rotational grazing, CropLivestock-Forest Integration (CLFI), and Agroforestry Systems (AFSs)-have proven to be effective alternatives for increasing productivity, restoring degraded areas, mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, and contributing to soil carbon sequestration. Furthermore, public policies like the ABC+ Plan and initiatives such as the Programa Rural Sustentável (PRS Cerrado, Sustainable Rural Program) have encouraged the adoption of low-carbon technologies in agriculture and livestock farming. This study focused on the Nova Santa Inês Settlement Program, located in the municipality of Santa Vitória in the Triângulo Mineiro region. The settlement lies within the Cerrado biome and falls under the scope of the PRS Cerrado program. It comprises 38 families whose primary economic activity is dairy and beef cattle farming. The study consists of a participatory diagnosis-involving data collection and planning with the family units-regarding the use of sustainable production systems for pasture management in dairy and/or beef cattle activities. The methodology employed was Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA), which included document analysis, transversal walks, and a participatory workshop to develop a SWOT matrix, preceded by a discussion circle on sustainable pasture management systems. The results revealed a predominance of conventional pasture management systems characterized by low intensification, limited adoption of soil correction and fertilization practices, and minimal forage species diversification, with a clear dominance of Brachiaria grasses. It was found that producers have limited familiarity with the technical terminology related to sustainable production systems. During discussions, it was observed that while some participants were aware of specific conservationist practices, they did not associate them with concepts of integrated systems, such as Crop-Livestock Integration (CLI) and Crop-Livestock-Forestry Integration (CLFI). Furthermore, the absence or only incipient adoption of these systems was noted, linked to financial constraints, insufficient technical assistance, and limited access to high-quality information. A SWOT analysis revealed opportunities related to institutional support and public policies, as well as internal weaknesses and external threats hindering the transition to more sustainable production systems. In conclusion, adopting these systems depends on strengthening technical assistance, expanding access to credit, fostering social organization, and implementing strategies tailored to local realities, thereby contributing to pasture recovery, increased productivity, and reduced environmental impacts, in alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 12 (SDG 12) – Responsible Consumption and Production.