Proper disposal of animal carcasses and cadavers and optimization of phytosanitary management of experimental areas

• Grant number: 24/08734-8
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Technical Reserve for Institutional Research Infrastructure
• Start date: February 01, 2025
• End date: January 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Principal Investigator: Humberto Tonhati
• Grantee: Humberto Tonhati
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Jaboticabal. Jaboticabal , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The São Paulo State University, School of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences (FCAV/UNESP), Jaboticabal has been seeking improvements in its collective research infrastructure, including the creation of strategies for the adequate disposal of solid health waste generated in studies conducted by researchers, professor and students of Animal Science and Medicine Veterinary areas, as well as the technical updating of equipment that brings greater efficiency in agronomic research activities. Among the waste generated are carcasses, cadavers and anatomical parts that must follow specific disposal protocols to prevent human and environmental contamination. Brazilian legislation defines the categorization of waste and guidelines for its disposal, proposing methods such as incineration, composting and autoclaving. However, although they seem interesting, these strategies are unfeasible to be implemented in FCAV, as much of this waste refers to large animals, which would need to be processed, using a shredder, or chopped into small pieces to be able to continue for incineration, autoclaving or composting. The investment to implement any of these three systems would be very high and would require manpower, which is currently limited at FCAV. A viable alternative is to outsource the disposal service to specialized companies, which requires storage and collection logistics for this type of material on the Campus. Therefore, a strategy is being proposed that will enable the storage of this waste safely and without environmental contamination until collection is carried out by companies specialized in this activity. Technical and equipment updates can increase the efficiency of academic and research activities and, among the innovations, the use of drones in agriculture stands out, specifically for spraying agricultural pesticides. Among the advantages of spraying with drones in relation to tractor spraying, in experimental areas, there is greater effectiveness and speed, low cost and lower risk of environmental and human contamination. Drones offer advantages such as easier access to small experimental areas, better penetration of phytosanitary products, elimination of the need for wide carriers required for tractors, applications in high rainfall conditions and in taller crops, resulting in more eficiente traffic spraying and generating lower volume of contaminating residues. (AU)