Análise da sustentabilidade de atividades agropecuárias na região metropolitana do Recife – Pernambuco

Abstract

Since the 1990s, there has been a need for the agricultural sector to expand to accompany population growth, which in Brazil was greater than 44%, according to the IBGE (1991 and 2020). However, the increase in production generates a series of environmental impacts, such as deforestation, atmospheric pollution, water contamination and soil degradation, making it essential to use more sustainable practices. In this scenario, the current research aims to analyze the environmental sustainability of agricultural activities in the 14 municipalities of the Metropolitan Region of Recife (RMR), located in the state of Pernambuco. In this sense, 4 Sustainable Development Indicators (IDS) were monitored, according to the IBGE system (2015): emissions of anthropogenic origin of gases associated with the greenhouse effect; use of fertilizer; use of pesticides; and lands in agrosilvopastoral use. The methodological procedures used in this study were based on documental research, bibliographic survey and consultation of data from official secondary sources in census databases. Regarding the performance evaluation of the indicators studied for the RMR in the indicated period, CO2e emissions decreased by around 40% of the emitted tons. Regarding the use of fertilizers, rural establishments reduced chemical fertilization by about 37% and increased organic fertilization by 33.59%. The use of pesticides, on the other hand, had an increase of 10% in rural establishments that do this practice. Regarding land use, permanent/temporary crops increased by 6,000 hectares, and natural forests/forests decreased by 5,358 hectares. Considering the analysis of the results obtained for the indicators of greenhouse gas emissions and fertilizer use, great advances were observed in their performance, contributing to local environmental sustainability. The indicators of pesticide use and agrosilvopastoral land use showed no improvement in environmental sustainability for the area under study. Therefore, it is urgent that both the government and rural producers invest in more sustainable alternatives in agricultural production, such as the use of biotechnologies and agroecology.