A Review and Analysis of Life Cycle Assessment Tendencies in the Brazilian Soybean Supply Chain

Brito, Thyago Rodrigues do Carmo; Aranha, José; Fernandes-Silva, Anabela Afonso; Santos, Leovigildo Aparecido Costa; Fragoso, Rui

doi:10.1353/bae.2022.0003

Cited by 1 publication

(5 citation statements)

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“…Indeed, [19] warns that the soybean production stage of the supply chain is responsible for most of the environmental impacts, mainly due to the type of land use, the soil management and the inputs used, such as pesticides, fuels, limestone, seeds and fertiliser applications.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this regard, we encourage using a no-tillage system to ensure better efficiency from the use of inputs at the agricultural stage, resulting in less harmful management and, consequently, a lower environmental impact on the agroecosystem. The transportation of the output ranks as the second stage of the supply chain for soybeans with the greatest environmental impact [19]. Due to the lesser CO 2 release from rail carriage, soybeans transported from the Redenção pole were better taken to São Luis despite the greater distance.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Knowing that Brazil is a country with continental dimensions and that most studies that have applied LCA methodology in the Brazilian soy supply chain are concentrated in the south-central region of the country, it is essential to deepen our knowledge of new areas where soybean cultivation is expanding (new agricultural frontiers), mainly in the sensitive region of the so-called Brazilian Legal Amazon [19].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The LCA studies about global soybean production are performed in different countries around the world, as well as focusing on distinct points of the soybean supply chain in order to clarify how is the ecological footprint associated along the global soybean value chain [2,[15][16][17][18]. However, more research is needed to expand the knowledge about this important topic along the soybean supply chain, especially in new agricultural frontiers [19].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Research into LCA applied to the Brazilian soybean supply chain in the north and northeast regions is scarce because it is mainly concentrated in the south-central regions of Brazil. More studies are therefore required to focus on the Brazilian soybean supply chain in this new agricultural frontier located in the state of Pará in the Brazilian Amazon Biome [19].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Life Cycle Assessment for Soybean Supply Chain: A Case Study of State of Pará, Brazil

et al. 2023

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Brazil has emerged as the world’s largest soybean producer and exporter in recent years. In the Brazilian Amazon Biome, the state of Pará has become a new agricultural frontier over the last two decades due to a significant increase in soybean cultivation throughout its territory. However, it is essential to understand the associated effects on the environment at every point in the supply chain. This research aims to measure the effects on the environment of the soybean supply chain of two production poles utilising openLCA software and the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology in the northeast (Paragominas) and south (Redenção) of the state of Pará in Brazil. In addition, we determine which is the most efficient route between the shipment port and the ultimate destination. The Recipe Midpoint (H) and Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) methods of environmental impact categories were used in accordance with the cradle-to-grave scope. The BRLUC regionalised model (v1.3) was used to quantify land use change (LUC). According to the observed results, LUC was primarily responsible (between 3.8 and 32.69 tCO2 Eq·ha−1·year−1) for the global warming potential (GWP) of the soybean supply chain when rainforest-occupied land was converted into cropland. The soybean harvest in the Redenção pole is better loaded through the port of Itaqui (TEGRAM), which is in São Luis (state of Maranhão), due to the use of multiple modes of transport (lorry + train), allowing for better logistical performance and less impact on the environment, despite the longest distance (road + railway = 1306 km). Due to the short road distance (approximately 350 km) and consequently lower environmental impact, soybean harvested in the Paragominas pole is better loaded through the ports around Barcarena in the state of Pará.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%