Although many studies on product portfolio management (PPM) and ecodesign exist, there are few investigations that analyze these areas in an integrated way. They are normally conceptually separated, with very few theoretical and empirical interactions evident in the literature. This article proposes a theoretical framework that integrates ecodesign practices, methods, and tools with portfolio management during the product planning stage. For the development of this framework, a systematic analysis and literature review of both PPM and ecodesign were conducted. The framework subsequently developed was evaluated through a pilot test within two companies that develop products derived from Brazilian biodiversity. In terms of results, it presents a set of practices that are associated with the following dimensions: Guides, Methods, and Tools; Organization; and Strategy. After presenting the evaluation of the framework by the companies, practices are proposed which can be useful for the integration of ecodesign into PPM, such as adoption of the Project Management Office (PMO) and the use of social media.

Trata o presente artigo de uma proposta de metodologia de pesquisa que busca discutir os referenciais teóricos da multifuncionalidade da agricultura a fim de analisar notadamente um sistema agroalimentar fundado em princípios e métodos da Agricultura Natural. Este sistema se organiza em torno de uma agroindústria integrando produtores locais para oferecer principalmente frangos e ovos. A Agricultura Natural é um modelo produtivo preconizado por Mokiti Okada (Japão, 1882(Japão, -1955, o qual enfatiza a necessidade de um perfeito equilíbrio entre as atividades humanas e as forças da natureza, para se alcançar bons resultados na produção, privilegiando a segurança dos alimentos, práticas conservacionistas da natureza, a saúde, e o bem-estar socioeconômico de produtores e consumidores. A partir da década de 1990, podemos perceber um incremento das discussões sobre a multifuncionalidade da agricultura devido aos inúmeros problemas sociais e ambientais advindos do modelo agrícola produtivista. Neste mesmo período intensificaram-se os problemas concernentes à segurança alimentar, com os casos da Encefalopatia Espongiforme Bovina (doença da vaca louca), alimentos contaminados com dioxinas e com resíduos de agrotóxicos, emergência de doença zoonóticas como a Influenza Aviária, etc. A ideia então é de discutir em que medida a Agricultura Natural, representando uma inovação tecnológica na produção de alimentos no Brasil e no mundo, oferece bases pertinentes na busca de um modelo agrícola sustentável, em respeito à humanidade e sua diversidade sociocultural e ao meio ambiente. Finalmente, analisamos a pertinência de posicionar o processo produtivo da avicultura alternativa com os referenciais teóricos do Sistema Agroalimentar Localizado (SIAL).Palavras-chave: avicultura alternativa, avicultura orgânica, multifuncionalidade da agricultura, desenvolvimento territorial, sustentabilidade, sistema agroalimentar localizado.This article is a proposal for a research methodology that attempts to discuss the theoretical framework of multifunctionality of agriculture in order to analyze an Agrifood System based on the principles and methods of Natural Farming. This system is organized around an agro industrial company which integrates local farmers to produce mainly broilers and eggs. The Natural Farming is an agricultural method advocated by Mokichi Okada (Japan, 1882(Japan, -1955, which emphasizes the need of a perfect balance between human activities and nature

Due to an increasing demand for natural products to control coccidiosis in broilers, we investigated the effects of supplementing a combination of ethanolic extracts of Artemisia annua and Curcuma longa in drinking water. Three different dosages of this herbal mixture were compared with a negative control (uninfected), a positive control (infected and untreated), chemical coccidiostats (nicarbazin+narazin and, later, salinomycin), vaccination, and a product based on oregano. Differences in performance (weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion rate), mortality, gross intestinal lesions and oocyst excretion were investigated. Broilers given chemical coccidiostats performed better than all other groups. Broilers given the two highest dosages of the herbal mixture had intermediate lesion scores caused by Eimeria acervulina, which was higher than in broilers given coccidiostats, but less than in broilers given vaccination, oregano and in negative controls. There was a trend for lower mortality (P = 0·08) in the later stage of the growing period (23-43 days) in broilers given the highest dosage of herbal mixture compared with broilers given chemical coccidiostats. In conclusion, the delivery strategy of the herbal extracts is easy to implement at farm level, but further studies on dose levels and modes of action are needed.

-The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the presence of roosters on welfare and egg production of laying hens reared in an alternative system. Two breeding systems were established: barn 1 -laying hens reared without roosters (4500 birds); and barn 2 -laying hens reared with roosters (4500 layers and 250 roosters). In the poultry facilities, microclimate, egg production, mortality rate, and bird behavior were evaluated. Microclimate analysis showed that the birds were subjected to periods of constant heat stress, except for the morning hours. However, even under these conditions, egg production results and mortality rate were consistent with the indices recommended in the Isa Brown management guide in the barn with roosters; the indices obtained were even better and were characterized by higher egg production and lower mortality rates. In addition to productivity benefits, the presence of roosters broadened the behavioral repertoire of the birds due to the introduction of reproductive behaviors. Moreover, there was a significant decrease in the tolerance-reflex behavior, which is associated with the impossibility of displaying reproductive behaviors. This alternative egg production system proved to promote animal welfare since it provides and stimulates the display of behaviors considered important for birds.

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With the purpose to identify alternatives to the use of oil seed crops and cereals in broiler feeding, we interviewed 21 family farmers raising broilers in alternative systems located in three relevant sites for the poultry industry in Brazil. Two groups in the south (Parana and Rio Grande do Sul) were organized in cooperatives raising slow-growing broilers in freerange systems. The third group was linked to a broiler company in the state of Sao Paulo producing antibioticfree (AF) broilers in intensive systems. Individual assessments were performed through surveys with semistructured questions. Nutrient supply was heavily dependent on maize and soy. Free-range broilers were normally raised with access to outdoor areas in permanent paddocks with very little vegetation available. In the three sites, the finishing period of broilers was the production stage with higher feed supplementation. In addition, farmers producing AF broilers highlighted subclinical coccidiosis as of high economic importance. Production of slow-growing broilers in free-range systems would benefit from local resources for the finishing period. Novel feeding strategies for broilers are suggested based on the farmers' report, agroecological site characteristics, and production systems.

The aim of this study was to assess the bromatological quality and the content of essential amino acids in maize grains produced using two different cropping systems: organic and conventional. The experimental area was four hectares, divided into two hectares per system. In the conventional management, agrochemicals from conventional maize production were used. In the organic management, inputs permitted by the current Brazilian legislation on organic production were used. For each system, 10 plots of 9 m² each were established, from which experimental samples were harvested. A significant difference was found in the bromatological quality of maize grains. The conventional management provided greater crude protein content. Significant changes were also found in the following amino acids: methionine, threonine, arginine, isoleucine, leucine, valine, histidine, and phenylalanine, which showed lower levels in the organic management. The results confirm the need to determine food composition before diet formulation, since using preestablished food compositions probably leads to differences between what was formulated and what was actually given to poultry. The type of management influenced the quality of maize grains. The management of plant nutrition in the organic system should be refined to adequately supply nitrogen, thus improving bromatological and amino acid quality of the grains.

The use of amino acids from alternative sources to reduce costs and increase or maintain poultry production levels is crucial to succeed in competitive industry. This study investigated the alternative methionine effects obtained from soybean compared to synthetic DL-methionine-99 % on the broilers performance in the production periods of 1-21 and 1-42 days of age. A total of 720 pullets were included in a completely randomized design with four treatments and six replicates of 30 birds. They received water and food ad libitum throughout the production phase. Diets consisted of T1-reference diet formulated with synthetic methionine (DL-methionine-99 %); T2-diet replacing 100 % of synthetic methionine with alternative methionine; T3-diet replacing 110 % of synthetic methionine with alternative methionine, and T4-diet replacing 120 % of synthetic methionine with alternative methionine. At 1-21 days of age, there was a significant difference (p<0.05) among treatments in daily gain weight (DWG), live weight (LW), and feed intake (FI). However, no differences were observed (p>0.05) in feed conversion (FC) and mortality rates. At 42 days of age, a significant difference (p<0.05) in DWG, LW, and FC parameters was observed among treatments, but there were no differences in FI and mortality. Broilers supplemented with alternative methionine showed significantly lower DWG, LW, FI, productive efficiency index (PEI), and flock uniformity (FU) and showed higher FC compared to animals supplemented with synthetic methionine. The synthetic methionine replacement resulted in lower broiler performance. More researches are necessary to promote better alternative diets for this system.