Producers and Consumers Relationship Strategies in the Organic Market in Brazil

The paper deals with marketing strategies in different sales channels and organic producers and consumers relationship. The empirical study was conducted on 41 organic horticultural farms in 16 municipalities within the Curitiba Metropolitan Area, Paraná, Brazil. Two types of farmers were identified: 1-Rural, with origins and life trajectories in the rural area and 2-Neorural, with urban area background having migrated to the rural milieu. Farmers who sell directly to consumers use more than 3 marketing channels, their production systems are diversified (+ than 20 products), management is complex and the farm is versatile (inn, restaurant, pick-and-pay, rural tourism) and producer/consumer relationship is bigger. Integrated farmers (indirect sales) have only one sales channel. Farmers follow production plans from the buying companies and the output is marketed through supermarket chains. Farming systems are simple (- than 5 products) and relationship with consumers is insignificant. Events such as visit to organic farms, advanced buying, producer/consumer direct credit and organic farming courses or field days, have strengthened producer/consumer relationship and provided consumer support to an organic farms network

Circuitos curtos de comercialização, agroecologia e inovação social

Este livro é resultado do encontro de alguns temas dos mais relevantes em torno da questão agroalimentar atual. A reunião de autores para refletir sobre circuitos curtos de comercialização, agroecologia e inovação social promoveu a conexão de profissionais e pesquisadores orientados por diversas abordagens teóricas e envolvidos em diferentes experiências práticas. Essa diversidade e sinergia nos mobilizou para organizar esse livro. Mais que o encontro de temas e autores, quisemos marcar um encontro entre diferentes teorias e práticas, e assim dividimos o livro em duas partes: uma que reflete sobre casos que mereceram análises aprofundadas de suas práticas, mobilizando diferentes teorias; outra que apresenta experiências na forma de fichas técnicas, visando em cada caso explicitar um “passo a passo” para agentes públicos e privados que as queiram replicar

Relações entre agricultura orgânica e agroecologia: desafios atuais em torno dos princípios da agroecologia.

Neste artigo, exploramos a relação entre Agroecologia e Agricultura Orgânica. O debate na comunidade científica em alguns países e a análise das posições ou discursos de pesquisadores e artigos apontam para distintas combinações, trocas e interações entre a Agricultura Orgânica e Agroecologia. Nesse sentido, primeiramente, com base na revisão de literatura, mostramos distintas interações entre esses estilos de agricultura. Além disto, analisamos as controvérsias das agriculturas em foco, bem como apresentamos uma síntese de dois estudos de caso para ilustrar a aplicação prática de princípios da agroecologia, ava¬liando práticas e valores éticos, relacionando-as com as lógicas familiares ou patronais de funcionamento da produção. Concluímos que as relações entre os estilos de agricultura não podem ser reduzidas a uma simples oposição entre um campo científico e um domínio prático. Diversos elementos devem ser tomados em conta, entre os quais o grau de integração sociocultural (valores) à sociedade, as práticas e a inserção no mercado. Estudos no território brasileiro exemplificam a diversidade de relações existentes, seja in¬clusiva ou exclusiva, observando-se uma fluidez entre conceitos de agroecologia e agricultura orgânica

Ecological transitions within agri-food systems: a Franco-Brazilian comparison

International audienceIn this paper, four French and Brazilian case studies of transitions paths towards a greening of farming and food systems are compared. The methodology is a transitions approach, both systemic and pragmatic. The main guideline follws the emergence and evolution over time of past and current initiatives emerging from the public and private sectors, as well as in the civil society.The roles of civil society and public authorities, quite different in Brazil and France as drivers towards transition, are discussed. The quality of the linkiages kept along time by local players is key to understand the sustainability of the transition process

Análise da transição ecológica de sistemas agrialimentares territoriais: Ensinamentos de uma comparação franco-brasileira

The ecological transition of food systems raises expectations and generates actions, both from public authorities and the civil society. A socio-historical analysis of situated experiences, within a systemic and pragmatic focus, is needed to address the diversity of the transition strategies and understand the mechanisms of change and the conditions of such ecological transition. Four case studies have been selected to analyse and compare such transition processes in France and in Brazil : 2 from rural areas of Southern France (Ardèche and Biovallée) and 2 from urban regions in Brazil and France (Curitiba and Rennes). This compared analysis shows that the transformation of the food system is always the result of complex interactions between a wide range of initiatives and actions, held by diverse and sometimes unexpected players. Those actions can combine and strengthen each other or on the contrary generate conflicts. Appropriate modes of governance are thus needed inside the food system in order to make it desirable and feasible, under environmental, social cultural and economic aspects. The 4 different paths that have been investigated put in evidence two archetypical ways. They rely on differentiated relations between public authorities and the civil society. In all cases, the involvement of civil society has been key to awareness raising and stimulation for food initiatives. But the way this mobilization has been integrated and developed by public authorities deeply differ. In the Southern Ardèche case, the linkages between the farmers’ initiatives and the local policies do not appear strong enough to include the diversity of agrifood actors within a territorial ecological transition path. In the Biovallée and in Rennes, trust and permeability have been built between diverse agricultural and food networks (of farmers, eaters, entrepreneurs) and the decision makers in order to let these different actors collectively take responsibility in the transition process. In the Curitiba case, public intervention has materialized in two ambitious and articulated programmes but it is not really linked to the creativity of social movements.A partir de l'analyse de 4 études de cas (Sud Ardèche, Biovallée de la Drôme, Rennes Métropole et Curitiba), les auteurs développement une analyse socio-historique des systèmes alimentaires territoriaux. Avec une vision systémique et pragmatique, ils étudient les dynamiques d'acteurs, en particulier entre pouvoirs publics et société civile, qui produisent des voies différenciées de transition.A partir da análise de quatro estudos de caso (na França Sul Ardèche, Drôme Biovallée, Rennes e Curitiba no Brasil), os autores apresentam uma análise sócio-histórica dos sistemas alimentares territoriais. Com uma abordagem sistémica e pragmática, eles estudam a dinâmica dos atores locais, particularmente as relações entre as autoridades públicas e a sociedade civil, que produzem caminhos de transição diferenciados

Institucionalização do movimento ecológico na agricultura: mercado e reorganização dos atores sociais

O resumo deste artigo não está diponível

The Civic and Social Dimensions of Food Production and Distribution in Alternative Food Networks in France and Southern Brazil

This article offers comparative insight into alternative food networks, based on French and Brazilian case studies. Looking at a series of initiatives, such as producer–consumer networks (Ecovida in Southern Brazil, AMAP in France), collective producer shops, farmers’ markets, and school provisioning schemes, we analyse the modes of coordination and decision-making that are articulated and the roles of the different actors involved. We show that the growing role of consumers and producers in these food networks, not only as individuals but also as citizens often involved in civil society organizations, can directly influence changes in public policy and the forms of agriculture practised, thereby leading to a better integration of the civic and social dimensions of food production and distribution. In both countries alternative food networks have strongly contributed to the legitimization of agro-ecology, although this is framed significantly by national specificities surrounding the institutionalization of ecological agriculture. In France this process focuses on organic agriculture, while it is more diverse in Brazil. Finally, we show that civic food networks’ influence on public policy partly relies on the alliances these networks are able to develop amongst themselves and with more institutional actors. We conclude with a discussion about food democracy

Institucionalização do movimento ecológico na agricultura: mercado e reorganização dos atores sociais

O resumo deste artigo não está diponível

Análise da transição ecológica de sistemas agrialimentares territoriais: Ensinamentos de uma comparação franco-brasileira

The ecological transition of food systems raises expectations and generates actions, both from public authorities and the civil society. A socio-historical analysis of situated experiences, within a systemic and pragmatic focus, is needed to address the diversity of the transition strategies and understand the mechanisms of change and the conditions of such ecological transition. Four case studies have been selected to analyse and compare such transition processes in France and in Brazil : 2 from rural areas of Southern France (Ardèche and Biovallée) and 2 from urban regions in Brazil and France (Curitiba and Rennes). This compared analysis shows that the transformation of the food system is always the result of complex interactions between a wide range of initiatives and actions, held by diverse and sometimes unexpected players. Those actions can combine and strengthen each other or on the contrary generate conflicts. Appropriate modes of governance are thus needed inside the food system in order to make it desirable and feasible, under environmental, social cultural and economic aspects. The 4 different paths that have been investigated put in evidence two archetypical ways. They rely on differentiated relations between public authorities and the civil society. In all cases, the involvement of civil society has been key to awareness raising and stimulation for food initiatives. But the way this mobilization has been integrated and developed by public authorities deeply differ. In the Southern Ardèche case, the linkages between the farmers’ initiatives and the local policies do not appear strong enough to include the diversity of agrifood actors within a territorial ecological transition path. In the Biovallée and in Rennes, trust and permeability have been built between diverse agricultural and food networks (of farmers, eaters, entrepreneurs) and the decision makers in order to let these different actors collectively take responsibility in the transition process. In the Curitiba case, public intervention has materialized in two ambitious and articulated programmes but it is not really linked to the creativity of social movements.A partir de l'analyse de 4 études de cas (Sud Ardèche, Biovallée de la Drôme, Rennes Métropole et Curitiba), les auteurs développement une analyse socio-historique des systèmes alimentaires territoriaux. Avec une vision systémique et pragmatique, ils étudient les dynamiques d'acteurs, en particulier entre pouvoirs publics et société civile, qui produisent des voies différenciées de transition.A partir da análise de quatro estudos de caso (na França Sul Ardèche, Drôme Biovallée, Rennes e Curitiba no Brasil), os autores apresentam uma análise sócio-histórica dos sistemas alimentares territoriais. Com uma abordagem sistémica e pragmática, eles estudam a dinâmica dos atores locais, particularmente as relações entre as autoridades públicas e a sociedade civil, que produzem caminhos de transição diferenciados