Efficiency and sustainability go hand in hand: a scientific study using PEC Calc shows that more efficient farms emit fewer greenhouse gases per liter of milk.

For a long time, productivity, economic efficiency, and sustainability were treated as separate objectives within agricultural production. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions was often associated with additional costs or the need for complex changes in production systems.

But the evolution of science, data, and technologies applied to the field has shown a new perspective: environmental sustainability can be a direct consequence of efficiency.

Research conducted at the Federal University of Lavras (UFLA), using ESGpec's PEC Calc technology, reinforces this connection by demonstrating that dairy farms with greater zootechnical and economic efficiency tend to have lower greenhouse gas emissions per unit of milk produced.

The master's thesis developed by Thaynan Ferreira de Araújo, under the guidance of Professor Daniel Rume Casagrande, evaluated the relationship between carbon footprint, productive performance, and economic indicators in dairy farms located in the Central-West region of Minas Gerais.

More than just calculating emissions, the study sought to answer a crucial question for the future of food production:

Is it possible to produce milk more sustainably while simultaneously strengthening the economic results of farms? The data suggests that it is.

Real-world field data transformed into scientific evidence.

The research was conducted on 26 dairy farms with technical and managerial support, using real data from the production systems. Indicators related to the herd, milk production, feed management, resource use, greenhouse gas emissions, and economic performance were evaluated.

Carbon footprint quantification was performed using PEC Calc, a solution developed by ESGpec based on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) principles, considering emissions from input production to the farm gate (cradle-to-farm gate) and following international benchmarks such as IPCC and IDF.

This process highlights one of the major challenges of the climate agenda in the agricultural sector: transforming information generated daily on farms into reliable indicators to guide decisions.

Greater efficiency, smaller carbon footprint.

The results demonstrated an average emission intensity of 1.52 kg CO₂e/kg of fat- and protein-corrected milk (FPCM) in the evaluated properties.

The main finding, however, goes beyond the average value found. Understanding the factors that explain the differences between farms is key to seeking improvements. Even within a group of technologically advanced properties, there was significant variation, with footprints ranging from 1.00 to 2.42 kg CO₂e/kg FPCM . These figures demonstrate that there are relevant opportunities to increase efficiency and reduce emission intensity through specific management strategies.

The research identified a strong relationship between animal productivity and emission intensity. Farms with higher production per cow showed lower emissions per unit of product, a result associated with better resource utilization and the dilution of emissions necessary for animal maintenance. (Figure 1)

Figure 1 - Linear regression of emission intensity (kg of CO₂ equivalent per kilogram of milk) as a function of animal productivity (liters/cow/day) (Source: 2026 research data).

In addition to individual productivity, herd structure was also a determining factor. Farms with a higher proportion of cows in production showed a smaller carbon footprint, demonstrating that reducing unproductive periods is both an environmental and economic strategy. In practice, this reinforces a fundamental concept: the pursuit of emissions reduction involves reducing inefficiencies.

More productive animals, better herd management, greater feed efficiency, and improved technical indicators are strategies that simultaneously contribute to the environmental and economic sustainability of the activity.

Sustainability and economic efficiency are not opposing forces.

Statistical analysis demonstrated a strong negative correlation between emission intensity and profitability, indicating that the most economically efficient farms also had a smaller footprint per unit of milk produced.

This result challenges the perception that sustainability only represents increased costs for the producer. In dairy farming, many of the ways to reduce emissions involve precisely the same points that improve farm performance: productivity, efficiency in the use of resources, planning, and management.

Producing more while making better use of resources is one of the most consistent strategies for building a low-carbon livestock industry.

The carbon footprint goes beyond methane.

Although enteric methane is often the main focus of climate discussions involving ruminants, the study showed that, in more intensive dairy systems, other components become more relevant. On the farms evaluated, feed and pasture management accounted for 48.2% of emissions, while enteric methane accounted for 43.4%. This reinforces the importance of evaluating the system as a whole, considering feed efficiency, feed production, fertilizers, energy, and management.

The future of sustainable livestock farming will be based on data.

The transition to more sustainable production systems will not happen simply through the adoption of isolated technologies. It will depend on the ability to measure, interpret, and transform information into decisions.

The research developed in partnership with UFLA reinforces an essential message: low-carbon livestock farming begins with greater efficiency, better management, and knowledge, which also lead to a reduction in emissions.

It is precisely in this integration between agriculture, science, and technology that ESGpec believes.

Because the data produced today on Brazilian farms can be the foundation for building the future of sustainable livestock farming.

ESGpec Synergy: Applied science to transform livestock farming.

The dissertation, developed in partnership with UFLA, is an example of how the integration of field data, technology, and research can generate new knowledge to support the evolution of sustainable livestock farming.

It is with this purpose that ESGpec Synergy was created, a program designed to strengthen collaboration with universities, researchers, and institutions interested in developing studies applied to agricultural sustainability.

Through the program, researchers have access to ESGpec technologies to explore new scientific questions, validate methodologies, generate indicators, and broaden the impact of research developed from real-world production systems.

If you conduct research related to sustainability, production efficiency, greenhouse gas emissions, or animal welfare in livestock farming, come and be a part of this network.

Discover ESGpec Synergy and connect your research to the future of sustainable livestock farming.

CLICK HERE