lynx   »   [go: up one dir, main page]
IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jcommo/v4y2025i2p8-d1670423.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Commodities from Amazon Biome: A Guide to Choosing Sustainable Paths

Author

Listed:
  • Richard Luan Silva Machado

    (Rural Sciences Center, Federal University of Santa Maria, UFSM, Roraima Avenue 1000, Santa Maria 97105-900, RS, Brazil)

  • Rosangela Rodrigues Dias

    (Rural Sciences Center, Federal University of Santa Maria, UFSM, Roraima Avenue 1000, Santa Maria 97105-900, RS, Brazil)

  • Mariany Costa Deprá

    (Rural Sciences Center, Federal University of Santa Maria, UFSM, Roraima Avenue 1000, Santa Maria 97105-900, RS, Brazil)

  • Adriane Terezinha Schneider

    (Rural Sciences Center, Federal University of Santa Maria, UFSM, Roraima Avenue 1000, Santa Maria 97105-900, RS, Brazil)

  • Darissa Alves Dutra

    (Rural Sciences Center, Federal University of Santa Maria, UFSM, Roraima Avenue 1000, Santa Maria 97105-900, RS, Brazil)

  • Cristiano R. de Menezes

    (Rural Sciences Center, Federal University of Santa Maria, UFSM, Roraima Avenue 1000, Santa Maria 97105-900, RS, Brazil)

  • Leila Q. Zepka

    (Rural Sciences Center, Federal University of Santa Maria, UFSM, Roraima Avenue 1000, Santa Maria 97105-900, RS, Brazil)

  • Eduardo Jacob-Lopes

    (Rural Sciences Center, Federal University of Santa Maria, UFSM, Roraima Avenue 1000, Santa Maria 97105-900, RS, Brazil)

Abstract
The exploitation of the Amazon biome in search of net profit, specifically in the production of cocoa ( Theobroma cacao ) and açaí ( Euterpe oleracea ), has caused deforestation, degradation of natural resources, and high greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, highlighting the urgency of improving the environmental, economic and social sustainability of these crops. These species were selected for their rapid expansion in the Amazon, driven by global demand, their local economic relevance, and their potential to either promote conservation or drive deforestation, depending on the production system. This study analyzes the pillars of environmental, social, and economic sustainability of cocoa and açaí production systems in the Amazon, comparing monoculture, agroforestry, and extractivism to support forest conservation strategies in the biome. Analysis of the environmental life cycle, social life cycle, and economic performance were used to determine the carbon footprint, the final point of workers, and the net profit of the activities. According to the results found in this study, cocoa monoculture had the largest carbon footprint (1.35 tCO 2 eq/ha), followed by agroforestry (1.20 tCO 2 eq/ha), açaí monoculture (0.84 tCO 2 eq/ha) and extractivism (0.25 tCO 2 eq/ha). In the carbon balance, only the areas outside indigenous lands presented positive carbon. Regarding the economic aspect, the net profit of açaí monoculture was USD 6783.44/ha, extractivism USD 6059.42/ha, agroforestry USD 4505.55/ha, and cocoa monoculture USD 3937.32/ha. In the social sphere, in cocoa and açaí production, the most relevant negative impacts are the subcategories of child labor and gender discrimination, and the positive impacts are related to the sub-category of forced labor. These results suggest that açaí and cocoa extractivism, under responsible management plans, offer a promising balance between profitability and environmental conservation. Furthermore, agroforestry systems have also demonstrated favorable outcomes, providing additional benefits such as biodiversity conservation and system resilience, which make them a promising sustainable alternative.

Suggested Citation

  • Richard Luan Silva Machado & Rosangela Rodrigues Dias & Mariany Costa Deprá & Adriane Terezinha Schneider & Darissa Alves Dutra & Cristiano R. de Menezes & Leila Q. Zepka & Eduardo Jacob-Lopes, 2025. "Commodities from Amazon Biome: A Guide to Choosing Sustainable Paths," Commodities, MDPI, vol. 4(2), pages 1-22, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jcommo:v:4:y:2025:i:2:p:8-:d:1670423
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2813-2432/4/2/8/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2813-2432/4/2/8/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Giuliana Vinci & Marco Ruggeri & Laura Gobbi & Marco Savastano, 2024. "Social Life Cycle Assessment of Cocoa Production: Evidence from Ivory Coast and Ghana," Resources, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-19, October.
    2. Adriane Terezinha Schneider & Rosangela Rodrigues Dias & Mariany Costa Deprá & Darissa Alves Dutra & Richard Luan Silva Machado & Cristiano Ragagnin de Menezes & Leila Queiroz Zepka & Eduardo Jacob-Lo, 2024. "The Intersectionality Between Amazon and Commodities Production: A Close Look at Sustainability," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-18, October.
    3. Waheed, M.A. & Jekayinfa, S.O. & Ojediran, J.O. & Imeokparia, O.E., 2008. "Energetic analysis of fruit juice processing operations in Nigeria," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 33(1), pages 35-45.
    4. Luciana V. Gatti & Luana S. Basso & John B. Miller & Manuel Gloor & Lucas Gatti Domingues & Henrique L. G. Cassol & Graciela Tejada & Luiz E. O. C. Aragão & Carlos Nobre & Wouter Peters & Luciano Mara, 2021. "Amazonia as a carbon source linked to deforestation and climate change," Nature, Nature, vol. 595(7867), pages 388-393, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. World Bank, "undated". "Consolidating the Recovery," World Bank Publications - Reports 37244, The World Bank Group.
    2. Giwa, Adewale & Alabi, Adetunji & Yusuf, Ahmed & Olukan, Tuza, 2017. "A comprehensive review on biomass and solar energy for sustainable energy generation in Nigeria," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 620-641.
    3. Coulibaly, Yacouba, 2025. "The effects of resource-backed loans on deforestation: Evidence from developing countries," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    4. Koppar, Abhay & Pullammanappallil, Pratap, 2013. "Anaerobic digestion of peel waste and wastewater for on site energy generation in a citrus processing facility," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 62-68.
    5. Sebastian Luckeneder & Victor Maus & Juliana Siqueira-Gay & Tamás Krisztin & Michael Kuhn, 2025. "Forest loss and uncertain economic gains from industrial and garimpo mining in Brazilian municipalities," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-11, December.
    6. Mohsen Khezri, 2025. "Impact of Various Land Cover Transformations on Climate Change: Insights from a Spatial Panel Analysis," Data, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-21, January.
    7. Michel G. J. Elzen & Ioannis Dafnomilis & Nicklas Forsell & Panagiotis Fragkos & Kostas Fragkiadakis & Niklas Höhne & Takeshi Kuramochi & Leonardo Nascimento & Mark Roelfsema & Heleen Soest & Frank Sp, 2022. "Updated nationally determined contributions collectively raise ambition levels but need strengthening further to keep Paris goals within reach," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 27(6), pages 1-29, August.
    8. Dhayaneswaran, Y. & Ashok Kumar, L., 2014. "A study on current characteristics of induction motor while operating at its base frequency in textile industry," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 340-345.
    9. Feng, Jing-Chun & Sun, Liwei & Yan, Jinyue, 2023. "Carbon sequestration via shellfish farming: A potential negative emissions technology," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
    10. Mengting Dong & Zeyuan Liu & Xiufeng Ni & Zhulin Qi & Jinnan Wang & Qingyu Zhang, 2023. "Re-Evaluating the Value of Ecosystem Based on Carbon Benefit: A Case Study in Chengdu, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-16, August.
    11. Débora Regina Roberti & Alecsander Mergen & Ricardo Acosta Gotuzzo & Gustavo Pujol Veeck & Tiago Bremm & Luciana Marin & Fernando Luiz Ferreira de Quadros & Rodrigo Josemar Seminoti Jacques, 2024. "Sustainability in Natural Grassland in the Brazilian Pampa Biome: Livestock Production with CO 2 Absorption," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-18, April.
    12. Fernandes, Stephannie & Fernandes, Geraldo W. & Fearnside, Philip M., 2023. "Viewpoint: Sovereignty and reversing Brazil’s history of Amazon destruction," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    13. Wenli Yang & Langang Feng & Zuogong Wang & Xiangbo Fan, 2023. "Carbon Emissions and National Sustainable Development Goals Coupling Coordination Degree Study from a Global Perspective: Characteristics, Heterogeneity, and Spatial Effects," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-23, June.
    14. Shannon G. Klein & Cassandra Roch & Carlos M. Duarte, 2024. "Systematic review of the uncertainty of coral reef futures under climate change," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-17, December.
    15. Sogut, Z. & Ilten, N. & Oktay, Z., 2010. "Energetic and exergetic performance evaluation of the quadruple-effect evaporator unit in tomato paste production," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(9), pages 3821-3826.
    16. Mojarab Soufiyan, Mohamad & Dadak, Ali & Hosseini, Seyed Sina & Nasiri, Farshid & Dowlati, Majid & Tahmasebi, Maryam & Aghbashlo, Mortaza, 2016. "Comprehensive exergy analysis of a commercial tomato paste plant with a double-effect evaporator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 910-922.
    17. Yang, Yi & Yuan, Zhuqing & Gao, Haohao, 2024. "Allocating quotas for industrial carbon emissions fairly and efficiently to achieve “peak carbon”: A case of the yellow river basin in China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 311(C).
    18. Yanlei Feng & Robinson I. Negrón-Juárez & David M. Romps & Jeffrey Q. Chambers, 2023. "Amazon windthrow disturbances are likely to increase with storm frequency under global warming," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-8, December.
    19. Li, Han & Si, Bing Cheng & Zhang, Zhiqiang & Miao, Changhong, 2022. "Deep soil water storage and drainage following conversion of deep rooted to shallow rooted vegetation," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 261(C).
    20. Martin J. P. Sullivan & Oliver L. Phillips & David Galbraith & Everton Almeida & Edmar Almeida Oliveira & Jarcilene Almeida & Esteban Álvarez Dávila & Luciana F. Alves & Ana Andrade & Luiz Aragão & Al, 2025. "Variation in wood density across South American tropical forests," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-12, December.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jcommo:v:4:y:2025:i:2:p:8-:d:1670423. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.
    Лучший частный хостинг