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Top 100 and ESG Quiz: perspectives that point the way to sustainability in milk production


ESG QUIZ

Introduction: A Quiet Turnaround Is Underway


While the debate on sustainability intensifies in urban areas, two concrete pieces of evidence point to profound transformations also taking place in rural areas.


On the one hand, the Top 100 survey of the largest milk producers in Brazil , carried out by MilkPoint Abraleite reveals that the country's largest milk producers have been increasingly strategically integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles into their operations. On the other hand, the ESG Quiz administered byESGpec at Expodireto Cotrijal shows that knowledge about sustainable practices is spreading among technicians and producers, reflecting the evolving nature of the sector.


In this article, we simultaneously analyze what the Top 100 and ESG Quiz results reveal about the paths for the evolution of dairy farming — and how initiatives like the Regenerative Awakening Project and the Milk Pro Summit 2025 can accelerate this trajectory.


What the Top 100 data indicates about sustainable evolution


According to the Top 100 survey, 65% of the country's largest milk producers stated that their profitability improved in 2024, after a challenging 2023. This result, combined with the increased adoption of sustainable practices identified in the survey, indicates that the integration of environmental, social, and governance strategies is increasingly consolidated among large farms.


In this scenario, the application of ESG principles ceases to be an exception and becomes a competitive differentiator, driving economic gains, strengthening reputation, access to markets, and laying a solid foundation for the future.


How sustainable practices are being integrated into farm strategies


Analysis of data from the Top 100 survey indicates that practices associated with social and environmental responsibility are gaining ground among the country's largest milk producers. Trends such as the use of bioinputs, manure management for crop and pasture fertilization, natural shading for animal welfare, and the adoption of regenerative management demonstrate that a significant portion of producers are already integrating these aspects into their production strategies.


Although the survey doesn't establish a direct relationship between these practices and individual economic performance, the scenario indicates that sustainability is no longer considered a secondary consideration and is being incorporated into farm management. At the same time, 52% of producers plan to grow by more than 20% in the next three years—an ambition that reinforces the trend toward aligning expansion with the adoption of environmental, social, and governance indicators.


What do technicians and producers know about sustainability? New data from the ESG Quiz


During the Milk Forum at Expodireto Cotrijal, ESGpec administered the ESG Quiz to technicians and producers. Developed as a practical diagnostic tool, the quiz aims to assess participants' level of knowledge, perception, and maturity regarding environmental, social, and governance principles in the context of milk production.


Designed with questions ranging from animal welfare to carbon emissions and soil health, the Quiz provides a realistic overview of the advances and knowledge gaps that still need to be addressed in the sector.


The results revealed an exciting and challenging picture of the understanding of the ESG agenda in the field:

● The overall average was 8.2 out of 10 possible points, showing that technical knowledge is high but still concentrated on the most widespread topics.

93% of participants recognize the importance of animal welfare, although less than half can correctly name the five domains of this concept.

96% value the physical and mental health of workers, a clear perception that ESG also involves people and the organizational climate.

64% directly associate ESG with productivity, demonstrating the connection between positive impact and economic results.

● A symbolic fact: almost all participants believe that sustainability begins with education , which reinforces the strategic role of continuing education.


ESG QUIZ

However, the Quiz also revealed important gaps:

● Many people still confuse the sources of enteric methane emissions.

● Understanding of soil carbon and ecosystem services is still limited.

● The concept of regenerative agriculture, although valued, lacks technical clarity among participants.


These data show that the sector is advancing, but they also highlight the need for ongoing training, new tools, and deeper integration of ESG principles into the day-to-day operations of farms.


Bringing theory and practice closer together


For transformation to be concrete and accessible, practical tools adapted to the producer's reality are essential—and it is in this context that tools are being made available every day. The ESGpec tools provided by the Regenerative Awakening Project can help with this transformation.


Transforming knowledge into practical experience isn't easy, especially in a country as vast as Brazil. With this in mind, ESGpec has been developing and adapting economic, social, and environmental sustainability assessment protocols for all producers, regardless of size or location, through the Regenerative Awakening Project, offering free tools such as:

PEC Calc : to calculate the carbon footprint, using a methodology adapted to the Brazilian reality.

PEC Scores : such as the BEA Score, ESG Farm Score and Pre Carbon Score, which translate farm data into sustainability and ESG performance indicators.

These resources help transform intention into action, strengthen conscious management, and prepare properties for a market that values data, transparency, and accountability.


From communication to inclusion: what's missing to scale


Transforming each farm is the first step, but this transformation must also be extended to the entire sector.


Many of the producers who most apply regenerative and sustainable practices are still invisible to the market, society, and public policy. Without visibility, they lose recognition and access to certifications, incentive programs, and commercial opportunities.


The solution involves three fundamental axes:

Communicate transparently the good practices already implemented;

Democratize access to tools that enable ESG in the field;

Include small and medium producers in building a sustainable future.


Measuring to Evolve: The Role of the ESG Quiz and the Milk Pro Summit in the Livestock Industry of the Future


The Milk Pro Summit 2025 will bring together leaders and experts to discuss innovation, data intelligence, and sustainability in dairy farming on May 15 and 16, 2025, and will include the ESG Quiz in its program.


Already presented in this article as a strategic tool for diagnosing knowledge and maturity regarding sustainable practices, the ESG Quiz will be used at the event as an invitation to practical reflection to: identify progress, recognize gaps, and strengthen the journey towards responsible and competitive milk production.


In a scenario where ESG, carbon markets, and productive efficiency dominate global discussions, measuring to evolve is no longer an option but a differentiator.


The Milk Pro Summit will therefore be a space to present and discuss these concepts, practical applications and accelerate the transformation of the dairy sector.


Conclusion: knowledge is the starting point, action is the difference


The lessons learned from analyzing the Top 100 and ESG Quiz data are clear:

"Knowledge is not enough. Change comes from the conscious application of what we know."


Brazilian dairy farming has the potential to become a global benchmark in socially and environmentally responsible practices, provided that producers have access, support, and recognition.


More than just a trend, conscious management based on ESG principles is already a competitive criterion. And in dairy, this difference is built with data intelligence, responsible decisions, and a commitment to the future.


May this awakening be collective, regenerative, and inclusive—and may the Milk Pro Summit be the catalyst for this new phase.

 

"Having the ESG Quiz at the Milk Pro Summit will be an incredible opportunity to bring sustainability reflection to a key audience. The Quiz is a practical, quick tool that generates immediate impact: it makes people rethink how much ESG they have already incorporated, or can still incorporate, into their daily lives. I believe that at the Summit, with producers, technicians, and decision-makers gathered, this experience will be unique and revealing. It's a way to spark evolution from the inside out, with those who make livestock farming happen."

Bruna Silper , PhD in Animal Science, milk producer at Brejo Alegre Farm and co-founder of ESGpec.

 
 
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