Set-on-fire ecosystem of Cerrado versus the sustainable production of Brazilian commodities

This research investigated the carbon footprint of two agricultural systems (sugarcane and coffee) and a livestock system (beef cattle) in the Brazilian Cerrado compared to areas frequently degraded by natural fires. Through a life cycle assessment approach (cradle-to-farm-gate), environmental, economic, and social aspects were evaluated. The carbon footprint results represent greenhouse gas emissions calculated per hectare for one complete production cycle. The results showed low emissions in areas degraded by natural fires (1.57 tCO₂/ha) compared to beef cattle production (6.2 tCO₂eq/ha), coffee (4.5 tCO₂eq/ha), and sugarcane (2.9 tCO₂eq/ha). When the carbon balance was performed, integrating production-cycle emissions, annualized productive biomass sequestration, and structural carbon stock associated with the 20% Legal Reserve required under the Brazilian Forest Code, sugarcane presented the most favorable result (− 198.7 tCO₂eq/ha), followed by coffee (− 144 tCO₂eq/ha) and beef cattle (− 141.2 tCO₂eq/ha). These negative values indicate that, under maintained management conditions and regulatory compliance, total structural carbon stocks exceed operational emissions within the defined accounting boundary, rather than representing permanent annual net-negative emission systems. Economically, coffee generated the highest profit (USD 3256.58/ha), followed by sugarcane production (USD 1941/ha) and livestock (USD 364/ha). From the social perspective of production systems, the negative impacts of coffee, beef cattle, and sugarcane are related to the subcategories of forced labor and equal opportunities. Our findings demonstrate that sustainable production systems implemented in fire-degraded areas can contribute to climate mitigation, ecosystem restoration, and local socio-economic development when aligned with environmental legislation and responsible management practices.