Agricultura familiar no contexto da produção sustentável de café orgânico no Brasil e América Latina

Abstract

This dissertation proposes an analysis of the concepts and practices related to family farming and sustainable organic coffee production in Brazil and Latin America. Coffee (Coffea sp.) is a perennial crop of great global importance, with Brazil being one of the world's leading producers and exporters. Historically, Brazilian coffee farming has adopted intensive agricultural practices, characterized by heavy use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides, which causes adverse environmental impacts, soil degradation, and risks to human health. In contrast, organic coffee farming is emerging as an alternative and sustainable agricultural system, based on the non-use of agrochemicals and rational soil management. Organic agriculture is defined by principles of health, ecology, justice, and care, promoting biodiversity, biological cycles, and soil biological activity. This model has gained global recognition, promising benefits for consumers, farmers, and the environment. The objective is to understand the different ways of defining and approaching family farming, taking into account its particularities and challenges, as well as to seek to understand the principles and practices of sustainable organic coffee production, highlighting its benefits for the environment, the economy, and society. We also sought to identify the main obstacles that family farmers face when trying to grow organic coffee in a sustainable manner. The methodological approach employed a systematic review of the literature, covering case studies and data from Brazil (São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo, Chapada Diamantina/Bahia) and Latin America (Mexico, Peru, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Bolivia), which generated a table with 11 studies focused on three themes: family farming, sustainable organic coffee production, and the challenges faced by family farmers in growing organic coffee. Although productivity in organic agriculture tends to be lower (20% to 25%) compared to conventional agriculture, certified Brazilian family farmers had 10% higher income and 30% higher profits, as well as greater market integration. However, the transition involves significant costs and a three-year transition period without a premium price. Diversification of income sources and support from cooperatives and producer organizations are crucial, as they facilitate technical assistance, financing, and marketing, providing a strategy for economic and social survival for family farmers. Organic certification is essential for access to differentiated markets, but marketing, especially for export, faces challenges such as bureaucracy, costs, and price fluctuations, which do not always result in the premium price expected by farmers. Social organization is a pillar for agroecological transition and improved living conditions. The analysis demonstrates the complexity of the transition to organic and sustainable coffee farming, highlighting the need for integrated approaches. Science and technology provide knowledge and socio-technical innovations, while society supports organizations, finances farmers, and ensures access to fair markets to guarantee sustainability and improved livelihoods for family farmers in Brazil and Latin America. Although organic agriculture offers undeniable environmental and social benefits, significant challenges remain that require continued support and effective public policies to fully realize its potential.