Technological and Social Innovations in the Context of Small Brazilian Rural Properties
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2022-01-01
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For this manuscript, we had the goal to provide a general and concise panorama of the Brazilian agricultural systems, focusing on the small farmers. Currently, the smallholding farmers have experimented with a set of challenges to keep the business ongoing, as rural exodus, climate fluctuations, lack of trade points, lack of public policies, a bad distribution of foods, among others. They also have realized some potentialities of this segment of the economy, as the generation of income, quality of foods, price, and access, autonomy in the activity, quality of life, stay in the countryside, among others. Regarding the technologies, we identified four main groups that are of overall importance: digital technologies, alternative technologies, social technologies, and social innovations. Such groups of technologies are not excluding, but complementary among themselves, and they have been idealized and developed to improve income generation, improve quality of life, make progress in the context of environmental sustainability, and improve the family succession process. Currently, one of the most preoccupying issues related to the smallholding farmers is related to environmental sustainability that might be assessed through indicators that embrace aspects as maintenance of the productive capacity of the agroecosystem, conservation of natural resources, and biodiversity, strengthening the social organization and, as a consequence, reducing poverty, and strengthening of local communities, preserving their traditions, their knowledge, and ensuring participation in the development process. Hence, taking into account that the smallholding farmers constitute the basis of Brazilian agriculture socially and economically, it is commendable that this kind of entrepreneur is supported by governmental programs that permit, enable, and encourage the families to continue the praiseworthy work to produce foods in quality and diversity, allying the agricultural production with environmental protection.
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Innovation in Small-Farm Agriculture: Improving Livelihoods and Sustainability, p. 159-169.