Technology at the Farm: How Innovation and Data Can Reinvent Sustainable Livestock Farming in Brazil
- Equipe ESGpec
- Apr 14, 2025
- 2 min read
Talking about sustainable livestock farming means talking about data, management, and decisions based on real information. And when it comes to connecting the field to technology in a practical way, few understand this path as well as Heloise Duarte —a veterinarian, specialist in digital solutions for agriculture, and co-founder of ESGpec. On the Sala de Negócios podcast , Heloise shared her journey and her vision for the future of Brazilian dairy production—showing that doubling production and reducing the carbon footprint isn't a utopia; it's data and decision engineering.
Technology begins with understanding
Technology alone doesn't change the field. It's necessary to understand the process, respect the reality of those on the farm, and translate complexity into practical utility .
With nearly 20 years of experience developing and implementing rural management systems, Heloise has seen firsthand what makes a technology successful: it needs to solve real problems, with an intuitive and accessible journey for the producer.
“The challenge is not that the technology exists, it is that it works for those involved.”
Digital Maturity: The Real Turning Point
Data collection can be challenging in some situations. But the biggest question is knowing what to measure, why to measure it, and what to do with the information.
For Heloise, the digital maturity of rural producers—their ability to apply technologies correctly and use data to make decisions—is the main limiting factor for innovation in the field today. It's not just about budgeting, but also about developing management skills , recognizing priorities, and structuring basic information that supports productivity.
"Those who can't manage their herd will have a hard time calculating the carbon footprint of their milk. Digital and sustainability go hand in hand."
IoT, Sensors, and AI: Where Innovation Meets Well-Being and Efficiency
Rumination sensors, monitoring collars, automatic sprinklers, predictive animal health models—all of this is already a reality on the most connected farms—and is rapidly gaining popularity.
These technologies allow:
Anticipate disease detection and reduce antibiotic use;
Avoid losses in production or disposal of milk;
Increase productivity per cow , diluting GHG emissions per kg produced;
Act directly on animal welfare , reducing heat stress and discomfort;
Gain food efficiency , with a direct impact on sustainability and profitability.
“Producing more milk per cow, with better health and less waste, is the most direct way to reduce the carbon footprint of livestock farming. ”
Is Brazil ready?
In the race for sustainability, Brazil has a unique advantage: there is still a lot of room to improve productivity, and with the right tools, the leap is set to be gigantic.
With its climate, biodiversity, natural pastures, and preserved areas, the country has the resources to excel in low-emission milk production. However, as Heloise points out, it must overcome fundamental challenges , such as infrastructure, sanitary requirements for export, and logistics in a continental territory.
"We are the sleeping giant of dairy production. But the future will require this giant to wake up—and wisely."
Listen to the full podcast
The full episode offers practical insights into technology, sustainability, and the behind-the-scenes nature of innovation in the field—from the perspective of someone who has served thousands of producers and technicians and supported the transformation of data into real decisions. Listen now on your favorite streaming platform or podcast aggregator:
