From Financial Neutrality to Ecological Responsibility: Reformulating Agricultural Accounting in the Era of Sustainability and Agriculture 5.0

Agricultural accounting faces unprecedented challenges in light of ecological crises and the digital transformation of Agriculture 5.0. This study critically analyzes the limitations of NCRF 17 – Agriculture of Portugal, particularly its inability to integrate environmental externalities and hybrid activities into financial reporting. Based on theoretical frameworks such as natural capital theory, critical environmental accounting, and integrated reporting, this research advocates for reforming traditional accounting models. It proposes alternatives that incorporate ecological performance indicators, such as carbon capture, biodiversity conservation, and soil regeneration, into the valuation of biological assets. Through a normative-documentary approach, it demonstrates how emerging technologies (eg, IoT, drones, AI) can generate traceable and auditable environmental data, promoting a more transparent and sustainability-oriented financial reporting model. This article presents practical models and examines the institutional conditions required to integrate ecological value into agricultural accounting, thereby contributing to the redefinition of accounting's environmental and social roles.