Family farming, producers organization and regional development: opportunities and threatens in agrifood experiences in Santa Catarina State (Brazil)

Abstract

The family farming located in peri-urban zones is showing an important capacity of adaptation in current agri-food Market, based in the outline of strategies that contributes for the final product aggregated value, highlighting the territorial entailment to quality and know-how to do. On the other hand, it caters to the consume demand in nearby cities by a proximity relation, which turns this kind of agriculture a resilience example face to other types of cultivation in the Market. From the study of two agri-food family farming experiences, situated in the state of Santa Catarina (Brazil), the aim was to analyze its capability of adapting to urban surrounding area, and, as a consequence, its role in territorial development. The first experience is the elaboration of Kochkäse cheese, in Itajaí Valley, and the second, the oyster mariculture, in Florianópolis coast. Methodologically, interviews with the commercial representative of producers were made, showing, as main results, the importance of productive distinction and the traditional methods of production to obtain specific products that turn it selves into territorial distinguishing signs, contributing for the generation of alternative income and identity enhancement, impacting on territorial development. This role could be reinforced by the creation of a new recognition of identity and specificity, like the Geographic Institute, or other ways of associativism that allow sharing a common project. Conversely, it becomes clear as being the lack of generational substitution the main challenge to be solved in the next years.