Agroindústria de ração animal: um panorama da produção e do gerenciamento de resíduos sólidos na mesorregião do norte central do Paraná

Abstract

The animal feed industry stands out for its ability to leverage the waste from other agroindustrial sectors, aligning perfectly with the principles of the circular economy, where waste is reintegrated into the production chain. However, it is important to recognize that due to the nature of the processing involved, this industry also generates a variety of solid waste in its operations. With the increase in activities in the animal feed industry, it becomes crucial to evaluate both the generation and the proper disposal of this waste. The state of Paraná is prominent in the agricultural and agro-industrial scene, which is reflected in the development of its mesoregions. The Central North region of Paraná particularly stands out for the modernization of agriculture and livestock, as well as the notable advancement in agroindustrialization. Thus, this study aims to understand the interaction between feed production, the generation of solid waste, and its disposal in animal feed agro-industries, focusing on the Central North mesoregion of Paraná. The methodology adopted involved three stages: surveying the number and types of animal feed agro-industries in Brazil and Paraná, analyzing the production of animal feed and its raw materials, and investigating the generation and disposal of solid waste. During the second and third stages, field research was conducted at an animal feed agro-industry, providing a deeper understanding of the practices and challenges faced in the process. The results revealed that Brazil has a total of 1,752 animal feed agroindustries, with Minas Gerais leading in number. In Paraná, there are 167 agro-industries registered with the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Supply (MAPA), with the Western region standing out. Animal feed production in Brazil has steadily increased from 2020 to 2022, rising from a production of 78 million tons to 82 million tons, representing an increase of 4.87%. During this period, the segment with the greatest representation was pet food (dogs and cats), with an increase of 16.94%. The main solid wastes generated during the feed production process include plastics, paper/cardboard, and feed sweepings (flours, bran, and feeds). Therefore, the proper management of this waste is essential to avoid environmental problems. The use of thematic maps played a fundamental role in constructing the panorama of animal feed production and the generation and disposal of solid waste in animal feed agro-industries in the Central North mesoregion of Paraná. From this analysis, the growing importance of investigating the waste generated by this activity became evident.