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The increase in greenhouse gas emissions, mainly due to the burning of fossil fuels and land use change, has led to changes in the global climate. Agriculture is one of the economic sectors most vulnerable to the impacts generated by climate change. For this reason, the challenge facing humanity today is to develop innovative solutions to address the complexity of agricultural sustainability.
On the other hand, sugarcane is one of the crops that emits the most pollutants into the atmosphere, mainly due to the burning of sugarcane before and after harvesting. Most of these atmospheric pollutants are precursors of climate change and have an impact on the health and quality of life of communities. Moreover, this agricultural practice causes the gradual deterioration of the soil, directly affecting sugarcane production. Consequently, several sugarcane-producing countries have established regulations or dispositions to eliminate this agricultural practice, and one option to eliminate it is the mechanization of harvesting. However, its implementation implies social, environmental, and economic impacts that must be analyzed systemically to avoid potential failures during the technological transition process. It is for this reason that this research, through the MICMAC method, focused on identifying the variables associated with the reduction of sugarcane burning in Campos dos Goytacazes and Tamasopo, to subsequently analyze their direct and indirect interrelationship, and, thus, determine the opportunities and limitations of each locality for the reduction of sugarcane burning.
Through this analysis, it became evident that although the technological transition is an imminent step for the sustainability of sugarcane cultivation, certain factors such as legislation, technological innovation, and the perception of the stakeholders regarding the consequences of sugarcane burning, is what defines in the study sites the speed and subsequent success of this process of change towards green harvesting.
Agroforestry coffee cultivation represents a promising sustainable agricultural practice in the Cerro de Kuskawás Natural Reserve (CKNR). This study evaluates the impacts of agroforestry systems on the sustainability of smallholder farms, considering economic, environmental, social, and governance dimensions. Data were collected from 15 smallholder farms participating in agroforestry initiatives supported by private sector interventions, specifically through an outgrowers scheme. The research utilized a mixed-method approach, incorporating questionnaires based on the FAO’s TAPE tool and interviews, to assess changes in income stability, biodiversity, gender equity, and land tenure security.
The findings reveal that agroforestry coffee cultivation significantly enhances sustainability across multiple dimensions. Economically, it provides increased income stability and diversification, as smallholders benefit from both the higher market value of sustainably produced coffee and additional revenue from integrated crops like fruits and timber. Environmentally, agroforestry systems improve soil health, enhance biodiversity, and reduce the need for chemical inputs, contributing to a more resilient and sustainable agricultural ecosystem. Socially, the inclusion of women in these agroforestry initiatives has led to improved gender equity and greater empowerment for female smallholders.
However, the study also highlights key challenges, including the high initial costs of transitioning to agroforestry, the dependency on external support from private sector entities, and limited autonomy for smallholders due to centralized control structures. The results suggest that while agroforestry systems have the potential to significantly contribute to sustainable development in the CKNR, achieving long-term sustainability will require addressing these challenges through cooperative models and local governance structures. This study provides valuable insights into the role of agroforestry coffee cultivation in promoting sustainability.