Interrelationship among actors in ethanol production chain as a competitive and sustainable factor: The case of associative production and family-farming in southern Brazil

The ethanol production chain is a complex system with a considerable number of actors and relationships. While Brazil stands out as a major producer of sugarcane ethanol, the production model in the north-eastern and southern regions is typically formed by small and medium production units, mostly a...

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Published inJournal of cleaner production Vol. 196; pp. 1239 - 1255
Main Authors Vaccaro, Guilherme Luís Roehe, Longhi, Alexsander, Moutinho, Marcelo Hercílio Carvalho, Scavarda, Annibal, Lopes, Catia Milena, dos Reis, Adriana Neves, Nunes, Fabiano, Azevedo, Debora
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Elsevier Ltd 20.09.2018
Subjects
Developing country
Ethanol
Family-farming
Renewable energy
Scenario analysis
Systems dynamics modelling
Scenario analysis
Systems dynamics modelling
Ethanol
Renewable energy
Family-farming
Developing country
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Summary:The ethanol production chain is a complex system with a considerable number of actors and relationships. While Brazil stands out as a major producer of sugarcane ethanol, the production model in the north-eastern and southern regions is typically formed by small and medium production units, mostly associated to family-farming and associative production. This feature changes the relationships and profiles of the production chain, requiring understanding for the development of appropriate environmental, political, economic, social, ethical, and technological actions. This paper systemically maps variables that act in ethanol production chain in Southern Brazil, seeking to understand the interrelationships among its actors. Data collection was based on a review of the technical and academic literature and semi-structured interviews with different experts and actors of the chain. Systems dynamics diagrams model how the chain is configured and the main cause-effect interrelationships between the actors identified. Scenario analysis supports the analysis and discussion of the modelled context, seeking to contribute to the discussion about the competitiveness and economic sustainability of biofuel chains integrating associative production and family-farming.
ISSN:0959-6526
1879-1786
DOI:10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.06.036