EXPLORING SUSTAINABILITY DILEMMAS IN POULTRY AND SWINE PRODUCTION WITHIN THE INTEGRATION SYSTEM: A CLUSTER ANALYSIS

Resumen

The sustainability of poultry and swine production within the integration system faces a dilemma between economic success and the negative impacts generated on the environment and society. This study aims to analyse the profile of rural producers operating within the integration system and discuss aspects associated with the economic, social, and environmental dimensions of the activity. Using a pre-existing dataset generated from a questionnaire that mapped the characteristics of integrated producers from 37 municipalities in the western mesoregion of Santa Catarina, Brazil, a quantitative cluster analysis method was employed to address the proposed objective. The findings reveal four distinct groups of producers, each exhibiting specific characteristics related to age, education, profitability of the lots, and satisfaction, among other factors. It was not possible to consider the analysed clusters as fully sustainable, as there were distinctions between the three pillars of sustainability, indicating a lack of balance among them. This, coupled with the diversity of the groups, highlights the influence of various factors on the producers' attitudes towards their activities and allows for the identification of critical aspects, opportunities, and motivators. The study provides insights for integrating companies, which may use this profile analysis to tailor their support strategies to address the specific challenges faced by each group. Additionally, the research supports the development of targeted public policies aimed at promoting sustainability in this sector.