Educampo report indicates low carbon emissions on dairy farms in Minas Gerais.
- Roger Dias
- Jul 12
- 3 min read
Press release originally published by Agência Sebrae and widely distributed in the media.
A study of 80 properties served by the Sebrae Minas program reveals that farms with low carbon emissions in milk production showed good results.
A groundbreaking report, compiled from data from 80 dairy farms participating in the Educampo program of Sebrae Minas, has revealed the first structured indicators of the carbon footprint of farms in Minas Gerais. The results showed an average of 1.15 kg of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) per kilogram of fat- and protein-corrected milk (FPCM), an internationally used metric for comparing different production systems.
Although methodological differences between studies and calculators limit direct comparisons, the main references from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) indicate that the global average for dairy farming ranges between 2.4 and 2.5 kg of carbon dioxide per kilogram of fat- and protein-corrected milk (FPCM).
The study conducted by Sebrae Minas analyzed rural properties responsible for the annual production of 95.6 million kilograms of milk. Furthermore, the evaluated group includes approximately 18,800 animals and an average production of 23.06 kilograms of milk per cow per day. According to the final report, aspects related to management, productivity, and handling directly influence emission levels on dairy farms.
The study identified that farms with lower carbon emission rates are precisely those with greater productive efficiency, with more productive cows, a higher proportion of lactating animals in relation to the herd, less time spent with unproductive animals in the herd, and better use of concentrated feed.
“Sustainability develops progressively from organization, the discipline of indicators, and continuous improvement in property management. In this sense, the carbon footprint is determined by the combination of productivity per animal, herd structure, efficiency in the use of concentrate, and management decisions,” explains Priscilla Lins, Manager of Agribusiness and Handicrafts at Sebrae Minas.
Application of tools
The properties evaluated in the study were already being monitored monthly by the Educampo program, from Sebrae Minas, whose methodology allows for the continuous monitoring of the farms' technical, financial, and economic indicators. This recurring monitoring contributed to greater consistency and reliability of the data used in the analysis.
The work benefited from technological support from ESGpec, a startup responsible for the tools used in the assessments. The PEC Calc solution was applied to calculate the carbon footprint, in addition to the BEA Score and ESG Farm Score, related to animal welfare and regenerative practices in dairy farming.
The carbon footprint measurement was conducted within a structured process of capacity building and data collection, involving producers and technicians from Educampo. In the first stage of the project, 25 consultants received training in applying the tools, interpreting the results, and monitoring environmental indicators on the properties.
The analysis identified variations between 0.88 and 2.51 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) per kilogram of fat- and protein-corrected milk (FPCM), demonstrating important differences between the evaluated production systems. The results reinforced the importance of continuous technical monitoring carried out by Educampo, allowing the farms to use the obtained indicators to guide improvement strategies in management, productivity, and sustainability.
By integrating environmental, social, and economic indicators into the continuous monitoring of properties, the project brought producers, industry, and the market closer together around a common sustainability agenda for the dairy chain. “The initial results already point to a structured movement of technical evolution that integrates productivity, governance, and socio-environmental responsibility. The proposal is to build a broader vision of dairy farming, considering not only productive efficiency, but also factors related to animal care, farm management, and the social and environmental impact of production,” says Priscilla Lins.
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