Environmental and socioeconomic impacts of ecologically based integrated production: A case study in three family units of the Federal District and surrounding

Abstract:

The work analyzed the environmental and socioeconomic impacts of integrated ecological production, considering the long-term sustainability of plant production and animal husbandry activities. For this purpose, three family farming units, called “A”, “B” and “C”, located in the Integrated Region of the Federal District and Surroundings (RIDE – DF), were evaluated. In these units, the Weighted Environmental Impact Assessment System for Novo Rural Activities (APOIA-Novo Rural) was applied, which includes five dimensions of sustainability: (a) Landscape ecology; (b) Quality of the environmental compartments (atmosphere, water, and soil); (c) Sociocultural values; (d) Economic values ​​and (e) Management and Administration. In the system, the Activity Sustainability Index is defined by an environmental adequacy line, set at 0.70 (on a scale of 0 to 1). Ecologically based integrated production of the three units generated positive performances in the average sustainability index (0.74), with emphasis on the Management and Administration (0.88) and Landscape Ecology (0.79) dimensions. Although the overall result was positive, the analysis pointed to the need for investments in the variable soil under organic management.

Keywords:
agroecology; organic production; sustainability index; APOIA-Novo Rural