the territory
Serra Gaucha Is a region settled by Italian immigrants from 1850 and is located 200 km from the capital, Porto Alegre.
Many metallurgical, mechanical, furniture and food industries are established. In terms of agriculture, production is very diversified but mainly focused on fruit and vegetables. It is one of the first regions in Brazil to have experimented with agro-ecological transition.
Many farmers are organised in groups, associations and cooperatives and sell their products at fairs or in supermarkets.
Case study referee
Daniela Oliveira
Other participants
Sergio Schneider, Paulo Niederle, Claudia Schmitt
daniela.oliviera[at]ufrgs.br
Territorial food system
Type of region : Urban areas
Approximate size and population
840 117 inh; 4 605 km²; 186 inh/km²
Increasing population over past two decades
Type of agriculture
Average farm size: 20 ha
Fruit and vegetable production + poultry and pig livestock
Short circuits (and anteriority)
Main social issues
Low level of poverty
Income inequalities, urban violence, immigrants from Haiti and Africa, gender issues
Presence of agroecologial systems
Around 450 production units in transition processes
Use of green fertilizers and biological control of pesticides
Specific agri-food system dynamics and initiatives (and anteriority)
Supermarkets are increasing their power in cities and controlling prices. In processing, the entry of large grape juice producers in the production of organic juice is identified.
Fairs and others channels, but also direct selling. During the pandemic, purchases through digital tools increase, specially WhatsApp; Very active network of EVOCIDA
Agrifood transition
Main stakes for the transition :
Climat change (drought, access to water) / Gender and inheritance, new incomers is difficult / Conventionalization of organics / Hike of input prices and logistics
Key obstacles to AE transition
Pesticides and use of chemical treatments in conventional farms. Lack of buffer areas to protect agroecological farms.E ntry of large agribusiness producers into organic food processing, especially grape juice. Offer of organic food produced by large agribusiness producers, which has hindered the sale of products from agroecological family farmers..
Leading actors in the transition
Social networks, like ECOVIDA. Local authorities from municipal services and in some cases the local farmers union; Cooperatives and associations of agroecological producers; University – UFRGS; Farmers organizations and technical organizations (NGOs) ; Ecovida Agroecology Network
Institutionalisation of the agrifood transition
The territory and well know and recognise as a spot of organics and agroecology in South Brazil. There is a sort of identity, which is recognise by local authorities and sometimes support by municipal extension services