Transformando a Pecuária Brasileira: Ganhos de Produtividade e Reduções nas Emissões de Metano

The report analyzes the impact of Brazilian livestock on methane emissions, specifically enteric fermentation, and proposes a multi-axis strategy to increase productivity while reducing emissions. It highlights the potential of pasture recovery, genetic improvement, dietary additives, and integrated systems to decouple livestock growth from deforestation and climate impact.

• Enteric fermentation in beef and dairy cattle is a primary driver of Brazil's climate impact, accounting for approximately 17% of the country's total greenhouse gas emissions and about 60% of its national methane emissions.
• The Brazilian livestock sector is characterized by low productivity, particularly in the North region where the stocking rate is approximately 0.9 head per hectare, compared to a national average of around 1.2 animals per hectare.
• Improving forage type and quality can reduce enteric methane emissions by up to 25%, while the recovery of degraded pastures, supported by technical assistance, has led to a 7% increase in total productivity.
• Dietary additives show significant potential for methane reduction: 3-NOP can reduce emissions by about 30% per unit of feed, and the seaweed Asparagopsis taxiformis can reduce emissions by more than 40%.
• Genetic improvement has demonstrated substantial results in Brazil; between 2000 and 2020, the Girolando dairy breed achieved a 39% reduction in enteric methane emissions per kilogram of milk while increasing average productivity per animal by approximately 60%.
• Extensive livestock systems in the Amazon often serve as a tool for land speculation and tenure consolidation rather than pure production, creating a direct link between low-productivity cattle ranching and deforestation.
• Brazil possesses a solid institutional base for methane mitigation, including the 'Metano Zero' program and the 'Plano Safra' (specifically RenovAgro), though gaps remain in policies for animal welfare, genetic improvement, and early slaughter.

APA

Zangiski, G., & Dotta, M. (2026). Transformando a Pecuária Brasileira: Ganhos de Produtividade e Reduções nas Emissões de Metano. Climate Policy Initiative. https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Transformando-a-Pecuaria-Brasileira.pdf

Chicago

Zangiski, Gabriela, and Mario Dotta. Transformando a Pecuária Brasileira: Ganhos de Produtividade e Reduções nas Emissões de Metano. Climate Policy Initiative, 2026. https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Transformando-a-Pecuaria-Brasileira.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Zangiski |first1=Gabriela |last2=Dotta |first2=Mario |title=Transformando a Pecuária Brasileira: Ganhos de Produtividade e Reduções nas Emissões de Metano |publisher=Climate Policy Initiative |date=June 2026 |url=https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Transformando-a-Pecuaria-Brasileira.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{zangiski2026transformando, author = {Zangiski, Gabriela and Dotta, Mario}, title = {{Transformando a Pecuária Brasileira: Ganhos de Produtividade e Reduções nas Emissões de Metano}}, institution = {Climate Policy Initiative}, year = {2026}, month = jun, url = {https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Transformando-a-Pecuaria-Brasileira.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }