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Brazil is one of the world's biggest beef producers and its largest exporter. However, beef cattle ranching is a leading cause of deforestation and habitat conversion in the Brazilian Amazon, which challenges sustainable development. We adopted the triple bottom line (TBL) as a guiding theory of sustainability and assumed the necessity of a production system-specific approach. Based on an integrative literature analysis, we aimed to assess sustainability pillars in beef cattle production. The Web of Science, Scopus and Science Direct databases were searched for studies on mitigating the adverse impacts of beef cattle production before the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. We found 108 references in these databases, 46 of which met the criteria for eligibility assessment, and ten studies were selected for textual cluster analysis and thematic synthesis. The review shows emergent research themes on sustainability in beef cattle production. It also elaborates a conceptual model of the sustainability pillars in the technique, science, and social aspects of the beef cattle sector that may guide the managerial and political strategies for the beef cattle supply chain in Brazil and other emerging markets. This study indicates that sustainable beef cattle development requires new digital technologies and ideas about sustainable supply chain management, which provides human, environmental, and animal welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brazil is among the world's leading food producers and exporters. The opportunity arose to examine and analyse dynamics of spatiotemporal of major agricultural crop and animal commodities within Brazil. An investigation was carried out on shifts in distribution density across Brazil's different agricultural production regions between 1990 and 2015. This focused mainly on the midwest region, Brazil's main agricultural frontier in the 21st century. This process enabled an analysis of the potential areas for maintenance and expansion of food supply chains and confirmed an increase in agricultural production in country's central region. Geographical transformations were noted in the midwest region's interior and its frontier with the Amazon biome. Over the study period, geographical midpoints of some key agricultural commodities (e.g., soybean, maize) and beef cattle production shifted towards the midwest's interior, whereas milk, poultry, and pork production shifted southward. A vital issue in discussing contemporary rural areas, agricultural food production is tied to the quality of life, food supply, distribution, and consumption, as well as social, economic, and spatial inequalities. The development of science and technology applied to agriculture has implications regarding production growth and innovation targeted toward guaranteeing sustainable long-term production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concerning sustainability and food production, efforts are made by social, political, and environmental actors to enact changes in production and consumption patterns and adopt new management models and instruments. Hunger, waste, poor distribution of food, and low diversity affect many countries, and small family farmers are abandoning their activities due to the challenges which minimize the possibilities of contemplating SDG 12. Local production and SDG 12 favor access to safe and cheaper food, thereby encouraging food security and minimizing food waste. Focus groups and interviews were conducted with the participation of local actors in 16 municipalities in southern Brazil. The study took a qualitative research approach and content analysis was used as a mode of investigation. It was then possible to provide assistance to the decision-making process of local and regional public authorities in terms of development to support sustainable production and consumption. This study highlights the contribution of family agriculture to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), specifically SDG 12. The study presents guidelines and means of implementation for a more sustainable family agriculture, as well as attributes to the challenges of the sector. With this approach, it was possible to connect the problem with the solutions, classifying them by thematic axes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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• The prognosis was obtained by Delphi method with 153 Brazilian specialists. • Global advances will impact on Brazilian beef cattle supply chain. • Scenarios and ten megatrends were defined for the beef supply chain in 2040. • The results were based on quality and technology with sustainable implications. • Advances will come from technical, professional and competitive livestock production. The Brazilian beef cattle supply chain has undergone technological modernisation in its production systems, resulting in better productivity, meat quality and competitiveness. The research aims to identify the megatrends in the Brazilian beef cattle supply chain expected by 2040. The Delphi method was used to identify the challenges. Scenarios were created and ten megatrends were defined: i) biological advances in waste management; ii) biotechnological transformation of beef farming; iii) less grass and more meat; iv) profits based on animal welfare; v) consolidated livestock with major players; vi) more natural and quality-demanding slaughterhouses; vii) meat with a designation of origin; viii) digital technology that transforms the entire supply chain; ix) availability of qualified labour; x) Brazil as a major exporter of meat and genetics. The development of this research has economic, social and environmental implications for both the public and private spheres. In the international scenario, Brazil could be a major exporter of meat and probably animal genetics, specialised and with added value. Global advances in the supply chain will come from highly technical, professional and competitive livestock production, mainly based on technology and quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]