ABSTRACT
Due to the
intensive use of natural resources in food production in Brazil and the
consequent air and water pollution, sustainable production is high on the
agenda of businesses and policy makers. This paper designs sustainable
production and distribution scenarios for the beef and pork supply chains in
Brazil, covering Planet, People and Profit aspects. A case study design is
employed in a multi-phase qualitative approach, consisting of two rounds of
interviews to pursue the final design of six feasible scenarios for the beef
and pork chains. Three sustainable production and distribution scenarios for
beef are designed: intensification, local production and sustainable operations
and integrated land use, and three for pork: integration of animal and crop
production, sophistication and balanced sustainability.
The core
improvements that can be extracted from the scenarios are: increased chain
collaboration, information sharing in the chain, and governmental involvement
in the Brazilian beef and pork supply chains. A major value of the paper lays
in the three-phase methodology set-up. This paper will also contribute to the
debate on sustainable improvements feasible in these Brazilian food chains.
