Tropentag, September 16 - 18, 2026, Göttingen "Towards multi-functional agro-ecosystems promoting climate-resilient futures"

Regenerative agriculture and eco-efficiency: An on farm study in Goiás, Brazil

¹Goiano Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology, Campus Rio Verde, Brazil
²Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA), Brazil

Abstract

Since the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in 1972, through the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), launched in 2015, researchers have studied sustainability, seeking to develop cleaner production practices and to measure them. Since 1990, the concept of eco-efficiency has been used to advance sustainability. Eco-efficiency can be defined as the delivery of competitively priced goods and services that satisfy human needs while progressively reducing ecological impacts. One of the main tools used by researchers during recent years to analyse eco-efficiency has been the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). DEA is a nonparametric, linear-programming-based technique that assesses the relative performance of a set of units. Another current methodology used by researchers is the combination of DEA and econometric regression analysis. Researchers have implemented this methodology to pursue eco-efficiency in several fields, including farming, coffee, well-being, the beef cattle sector, the forest sector, and sugarcane. Recently, Regenerative Agriculture has emerged as an alternative sustainable production system. Regenerative Agriculture can be defined as an alternative food production system with lower or even net-positive environmental and/or social impacts. To contribute to this debate, this paper examined the eco-efficiency of 30 soybean farms in southern Goiás, Brazil, that employ regenerative and traditional systems, with a focus on minimising chemical inputs. To verify its eco-efficiency and identify opportunities for improvement, data were collected on the farms during the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 production years. After collecting the data, two Slack-Based Measure Data Envelopment Analyses (SBM-DEA) were performed: first with Total Production as the output, and second with Total Production (desired output) and CO₂ emissions (undesired output). A second-stage regression analysis was performed to explore how contextual factors influence eco-efficiency. Inputs used, climatic data and a dummy indicating if the field employed regenerative practices or not were used as independent variables. SBM-DEA analysis indicates that regenerative fields were less eco-efficient in both analyses. Econometric regression shows that fungicides and herbicides have a negative and significant impact on Total Production Efficiency and Total Production + CO₂ Efficiency, indicating a decline in soybean production eco-efficiency. Regenerative practices did not present any significant results in the regression analysis. This paper contributes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2, 6, and 12.

Keywords: Eco-efficiency, environmental impact, regenerative agriculture, soybean

Contact Address: Alcido Elenor Wander, Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA), Rodovia GO-462, km 12, 75375-000 Santo Antonio de Goias, Brazil, e-mail: alcido.wanderembrapa.br