The agreement was reached during the opening of the XXII World Poultry Congress (WPC) in Salvador.

The decision is the result of a study conducted by Embrapa Swine and Poultry, which compared the impact of reducing greenhouse gases to the modernisation of farms.

"The study shows that poultry producers can reduce CO2 emissions by 4 million tonnes, which corresponds to a three per cent reduction for agriculture within the Low Carbon Agriculture Programme," said the director of Embrapa Swine and Poultry, Dirceu Talamini.

According to Mr Talamini, the change improves the feed conversion of birds, the productivity of labour and the performance and sustainability of broiler production.

"The recognition by MAP of the importance of providing funding for the poultry industry underscores the importance of the work that is already being carried out by the sector in mitigating the emission of greenhouse gases.

"The programme helps in areas that preserve forests, with low water and energy, and also invests in environmental and recycling of byproducts. To create the operational system, producers need access to credit lines. In addition to supporting producers, the measure increases the industry's image in the international market, explaining the sustainable profile of our supply chain."

The Low Carbon Agriculture Programme was created in 2010 by the federal government and provides resources and incentives for farmers to adopt sustainable agricultural techniques. The goal is to mitigate and reduce the emission of greenhouse gases - carbon dioxide (CO2), methane and nitrous oxide.