Sustainability of the pig and poultry industries in Santa Catarina State, Brazil: Challenges for socio-economic researchers, extension professionals and operators

Despite having successfully introduced technical and economic benchmarking procedures to improve producers’ performance, sustainability of the pig and poultry industries in Santa Catarina, Brazil might not be assured, because of significant problems such as poor waste management under current production systems. This study employed a comprehensive methodology, combining quantitative (life cycle assessment), qualitative (survey and focus groups), and economic approaches, including an assessment of externalities, to identify a set of core sustainability indicators. They have been group into economic, environmental and social categories, according to their relevance to stakeholders. The challenge for professionals servicing these industries lies in developing policies and designing production systems that meet the social and environmental specifications incorporated in the sustainability indicators, rather than relying solely on conventional technical and economic benchmarks.