Digital Social Balance and the ESG Era: Algorithmic Transparency as a Governance Mechanism in the Sugar-Energy Sector

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20397/2177-6652/2026.v26i2.3419

Keywords:

ESG Digital; Balanço Social Digital; Transparência Algorítmica; Inteligência Artificial; Blockchain.

Abstract

1) Title Digital Social Balance and the ESG Era: Algorithmic Transparency as a Governance Mechanism in the Sugar-Energy Sector.

2) Objective The article aims to propose the integration of Digital Social Balance and Digital ESG concepts as an innovative framework of socio-environmental governance for the Brazilian sugar-energy sector. Specifically, the study seeks to propose and evaluate ex-ante a theoretical-conceptual model that, through the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Blockchain technology, is capable of demonstrating the feasibility of transforming sustainability reports into dynamic and auditable systems. Thus, the study intends to reduce informational asymmetries, mitigate moral hazard, and validate the sector's corporate governance practices.

3) Methodology The study is characterized as a theoretical essay adopting the Design Science Research (DSR) methodological approach to create and propose a technological conceptual artifact. The research was divided into four interdependent stages: systematic literature review to diagnose limitations of existing reports; construction of the architecture and structural modeling of the Digital Social Balance integrating IoT, AI, and Blockchain; feasibility assessment using real data from the Brazilian market for the 2022-2023 biennium through algorithmic triangulation; and structuring of participatory governance through public platforms. As a theoretical basis, the study adopted the approaches of Agency Theory and Transaction Cost Theory.

4) Originality/Relevance The work fits into the theoretical gap resulting from the limitations and exhaustion of traditional and static socio-environmental reporting models, such as IBASE, ETHOS, and GRI. Literature shows that the voluntary and retrospective nature of these reports makes them vulnerable to information selectivity (cherry-picking) and greenwashing. The relevance and originality of the research lie in the proposal of the "algorithmic transparency" concept, which combines technological infrastructure to transfer ESG metrics from human self-declaration to autonomous observation, acting continuously and immutably to mitigate the profound information asymmetry present in agribusiness chains.

5) Main Results The proposal proved that the Digital Social Balance model overcomes technical problems, such as the "Oracle Problem," by applying Multimodal Consistency Triangulation, requiring Sensor Signature, Geospatial Consistency, and Regulatory Consistency before recording information on the Blockchain. In the Proof of Concept (PoC), involving a sample of reports from the 2022-2023 biennium, the system detected a 30% divergence rate between corporate statements and actual geospatial data. The result attests that replacing traditional audits with autonomous monitoring makes it feasible to detect greenwashing, such as in cases of unreported native vegetation clearing, converting socio-environmental tracking into verified and unalterable data.

6) Theoretical/Methodological Contributions The main theoretical contribution consists of the transposition of the Legitimacy Theory paradigm towards the political economy of corporate governance, using technological infrastructure to solve the high informational asymmetry inherent to Agency Theory. Methodologically, the integration of Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKP) layers associated with a Consortium Blockchain innovates by allowing the reliable proof of socio-environmental compliance in real-time, without the need to expose trade secrets or incur the high Transaction Costs inherent to traditional inspection in vast rural areas.

7) Social/Management Contributions For management, the study offers active real-time monitoring tools that predict socio-environmental risks and prevent, through smart contracts, supplier failures and hidden externalities from turning into sanctions or a loss of credibility for the controlling mill. By ensuring highly reliable and decentralized data, the system qualifies organizations to capture the "green premium" (greenium), reducing capital costs, facilitating access to international finance, and safely backing the issuance of Decarbonization Credits (CBIOs). Socially, the model favors the democratization of access to this information, helping to empower rural workers and local communities to act as active monitors of sustainable development.

Author Biographies

Antonio Sergio Torres Penedo, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia - UFU Faculdade de Gestão e Negócio - FAGEN

Doutor em Engenharia de Produção pela Universidade Federal de São Carlos - UFSCAR (2011) com a tese defendida analisando os balanços sociais e seus impactos na área econômica, social e ambiental do setor de sucroalcooleiro; Mestre em Administração pela Universidade de São Paulo - USP (2005) com a dissertação versando sobre o processo de previsão de preços de açúcar e etanol no Estado de São Paulo; e Graduação em Engenharia Mecânica pela Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho - UNESP (2002) com o trabalho de conclusão de curso na área de métodos quantitativos. Atualmente é Professor Adjunto III da Universidade Federal de Uberlândia - UFU na Faculdade de Gestão e Negócios - FAGEN, Professor da Universidade Aberta do Brasil (UAB) vinculado ao curso de Administração Pública da FAGEN - UFU e Docente Efetivo do Programa de Pós Graduação em Administração (PPGA) da Faculdade de Gestão e Negócios - FAGEN/UFU. Pesquisador no grupo de Finanças na FAGEN - UFU, no Programa de Apoio à Produção e Operações da FEARP - USP, Pesquisador no Grupo de Pesquisa GEPRES - Grupo de Extensão e Pesquisa em Redes Sociais na FAGEN-UFU, Pesquisador no Núcleo de Estudos Aplicados à Gestão Integrada de Operações (NEAGIO) na FAGEN - UFU, Pesquisador no Núcleo de Pesquisa e Extensão em Gestão e Políticas Publicas (NPExGPP) na FAGEN - UFU. Possui experiência acadêmica no setor de agronegócios com orientações e participações em bancas de monografias e trabalho de conclusão de curso (TCC); artigos científicos publicados em periódicos nacionais e internacionais, além de organização e participações em congressos, seminários, encontros, conferências e demais eventos científicos e tecnológicos. Revisor da RACEF - Revista de Administração, Contabilidade e Economia da Fundace, Revisor do periódico Independent Journal of Management & Production, Revisor do Periódico Agricultural Systems - Elsevier (Qualis A1), Revisor do Periódico Rama: Revista em Agronegócio e Meio Ambiente, Revisor do Periódico Reunir: Revista de Administracao, Ciencias Contabeis e Sustentabilidade e parecerista de diversos eventos científicos nacionais e internacionais. Coordenador do Curso de Especialização em Gestão Pública em Saúde na FAGEN-UFU.

Vinicius Silva Pereira, Universidad Federal de Uberlândia (UFU)

PhD in Administration from Fundação Getúlio Vargas (FGV), Finance track (2013). Master in Administration from the School of Management and Business at the Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU), Finance and Controllership track (2008). Specialist (Postgraduate degree) in Strategic Business Administration from the União Educacional de Minas Gerais (2006). Bachelor in Business Administration from the Federal University of Uberlândia (2005). Bachelor in Economics from the Federal University of Uberlândia (2004). Professional experience as a professor, consultant, and manager. Currently, he is a professor at the School of Management and Business (FAGEN) of the Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU) (since 2009) in the field of Finance. Faculty member of the Graduate Program in Administration (PPGAdm) at FAGEN/UFU, specializing in Organizational Management and Regionality. Faculty member of the Graduate Program in Organizational Management (PPGGO) at FAGEN/UFU, specializing in Public Management. Member of the Finanças e Refines research group. Member of the research centers NePFin (Center for Studies and Research in Finance) and Match. Research interests: Regionality, Agribusiness, International Finance, Sports Finance, Public Finance, Distance Learning (EaD), and Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) applied to education.

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Published

2026-06-23

How to Cite

Penedo, A. S. T., & Silva Pereira, V. (2026). Digital Social Balance and the ESG Era: Algorithmic Transparency as a Governance Mechanism in the Sugar-Energy Sector. Revista Gestão & Tecnologia, 26(2), 322–346. https://doi.org/10.20397/2177-6652/2026.v26i2.3419

Issue

Vol. 26 No. 2 (2026)

Section

ENSAIO TEÓRICO

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