A comprehensive analysis of the environmental performance of the Uruguayan agricultural sector

Abstract

Ensuring food production while enhancing environmental sustainability is a critical challenge in the 21st century. Quantitative descriptions of environmental performance at the farm level are essential for evaluating agricultural production, aligning with climate and biodiversity goals, and facilitating sustainable transitions. However, many existing indicators and proxies rely on costly field-collected data with limited spatial generalization. In this study, we assessed the environmental performance of Uruguayan farms larger than 5 ha using seven synoptic indicators derived from remote sensing. These indicators included the proportion of natural habitats (NatHab), diversity of Ecosystem Functional Types (dEFT), supply of regulating and supporting Ecosystem Services (ESSI), their temporal trends (tESSI), Energy Available for Trophic Network (EATN; 1- Human Appropriation of Net Primary Production), Hydrological Yield (HY), and Soil Conservation (SC). We categorized rural cadastral units from different geomorphological regions into Cropland, Mixed, and Livestock production types. Results showed variations in environmental performance among production systems and regions, with livestock farms generally outperforming and exhibiting less variability. However, cropland farms displayed potential for comparable environmental performance to less intensified areas. Regional disparities were evident, with the Basaltic region demonstrating higher overall performance. Indicators such as NatHabs, dEFT, and EATN exhibited significant variation, reflecting land-use and management practices. HY also showcased notable regional and land-use differences, influenced by soil characteristics and landscape features. SC varied mainly between geomorphological regions. Interestingly, regional patterns differed among indicators, suggesting low redundancy. This study provides valuable insights into environmental performance and its spatial dynamics in the Uruguayan agricultural sector, informing land management and policy decisions. Future studies should engage diverse social actors to develop an environmental performance index for agricultural production, enhancing the sustainability of food production systems.