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Copyright of Revista Foco (Interdisciplinary Studies Journal) is the property of Revista Foco and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

There is an urgent demand to change our intensive crop production systems, replacing them with soil use and management systems that recover, preserve, or improve soil health and are environmentally sustainable, producing healthy and good-quality food. In this work, we compile and present strategies and public policies aimed toward soil and water conservation and food production in Brazil. The results presented may help Brazilian farmers adopt practices to recover, maintain, or improve soil health and politicians to create or modify public policies for healthy soil and food, without the necessity of increasing agricultural areas. Food insecurity was also addressed, with family farming playing an important role in food production and decreasing food insecurity. But these challenges need the combined efforts and engagement of the whole society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To explore the opinions of Brazilian National School Feeding Program (NSFP) nutritionists concerning the benefits and difficulties of implementing family-farming food purchases for the school feeding program. Methods: Exploratory and descriptive qualitative study conducted through the analysis of inductive content of open interviews carried out with technically responsible nutritionists of the School Feeding Program of 21 municipalities in Southern Brazil. Results: The qualitative analysis of the interviews resulted in 17 codes grouped into four categories that show the opinion of nutritionists on the benefits and difficulties of purchasing family-farming food: 1. increasing the visibility of rural areas and 2. improving the quality of food provided in school meals; 3. low product availability and 4. limited infrastructure for production and delivery. Conclusion: According to nutritionists, purchasing family-farming food in NSFP can increase the supply of healthy food in schools and stimulate rural development. However, efforts are needed to adjust institutional food demands for local food production and improve infrastructure for food production and distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food production is extremely dependent on the soil. Brazil plays an important role in the global food production chain. Although only 30% of the total Brazilian agricultural areas are used for crop and livestock, the full soil production potential needs to be evaluated due to the environmental and legal impossibility to expand agriculture to new areas. A novel approach to assess the productive potential of soils, called "SoilPP" and based on soil analysis (0–100 cm) - which express its pedological information - and machine learning is presented. Historical yields of sugarcane and soybeans were analyzed, allowing to identify where it is still possible to improve crop yields. The soybean yields were below the estimated SoilPP in 46% of Brazilian counties and could be improved by proper management practices. For sugarcane, 38% of areas can be improved. This technique allowed us to understand and map the food yield situation over large areas, which can support farmers, consultants, industries, policymakers, and world food security planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pereskia aculeata Miller and Pereskia grandfolia Haw, known as 'ora-pro-nobis', are unconventional vegetables belonging to the Cactaceae family, native to the Americas and common in the northeast and southeast regions of Brazil. This review attempts to present a balanced account of both the methods used for obtaining extracts from the diverse parts of the plants and the results that were obtained in terms of their applicability to foods and other products with biological activities. Attention will also be devoted to the properties of their bioactives and their applications to real food products. Methods for obtaining extracts from the diverse parts of the plants will be analyzed, as well as the chemical nature of the bioactives that were hitherto identified. Next, the applicability of ora-pro-nobis in either its integral form or in the form of extracts or other products (mucilages) to the production of food and dietary supplements will be analyzed. The species have been extensively investigated during the last few decades. But, the determination of chemical structures is frequently incomplete and there is a need for new studies on texture determination and color evaluation. Further studies exploring the fruit and flowers of P. aculeata are also required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Farol - Revista de Estudos Organizacionais e Sociedade is the property of Farol - Revista de Estudos Organizacionais e Sociedade and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Pesticides are becoming a key topic in critical academic research; they entail substantial negative global impacts on human health and other-than-humans' existences. Even though decades of agroecological research and practice have demonstrated that no pesticides are needed to produce enough food, pesticides are still most typically taken for granted as an indispensable part of food production. In this article, we analyse events and policies through which Brazilian agriculture has become a global hotspot for pesticide consumption in the global agrarian capitalism. We provide an overview of the pesticide legalisation in Brazilian agriculture and discuss the ramifications of recent changes for pesticide-free agriculture. The post-2016 legalisation of pesticides has taken place concomitantly with a quick dismantling of the structures supporting agroecology and protecting the environment. The toxic turn of the Brazilian agriculture is seen in part as a reactionary response to the momentum of agroecology, which removes pesticides from agriculture, that had gained strength under the first Workers' Party regime between 2003 and 2016. A pivotal policy goal for the new Lula government should be an agroecological transformation, which can be justified by politicising pesticide use as a major, multidimensional problem of the 'agribusiness economy'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyse an empirical paradox: overproduction of commodities- food-grain and feed-grain for export in Brazil and a high level of hunger detected in a national inquire of food security. In this condition, It's necessary to appell to social and economic policies in order to generate diversification of food production and income diponible for poor peoples. These policies are essentials conditions for poor peoples acesss foods on food security situation.But conceptions of political ecoonomy of agrobussiness system and anothers arrangements of neoliberal economics has blocked actions in direction of food security and Social State.These objections are the main policy problem, that is necessary to face in a new political approach of this question. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Memoria em Rede is the property of Revista Memoria em Rede and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Brazil is among the world's leading food producers and exporters. The opportunity arose to examine and analyse dynamics of spatiotemporal of major agricultural crop and animal commodities within Brazil. An investigation was carried out on shifts in distribution density across Brazil's different agricultural production regions between 1990 and 2015. This focused mainly on the midwest region, Brazil's main agricultural frontier in the 21st century. This process enabled an analysis of the potential areas for maintenance and expansion of food supply chains and confirmed an increase in agricultural production in country's central region. Geographical transformations were noted in the midwest region's interior and its frontier with the Amazon biome. Over the study period, geographical midpoints of some key agricultural commodities (e.g., soybean, maize) and beef cattle production shifted towards the midwest's interior, whereas milk, poultry, and pork production shifted southward. A vital issue in discussing contemporary rural areas, agricultural food production is tied to the quality of life, food supply, distribution, and consumption, as well as social, economic, and spatial inequalities. The development of science and technology applied to agriculture has implications regarding production growth and innovation targeted toward guaranteeing sustainable long-term production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fermented foods production started thousands of years ago and comprised a wide variety of products from different cultures and countries. The discovery of fermented foods is considered an empirical process based on human observation and experimentation of food types susceptible to natural biochemical and microbiological effects. Given the historical miscegenation of Brazilian people, the country has rich cultural diversity and a complex mix of ethnicities, religions and culinary traditions, among others. Thus, the current review aims at presenting the main cultural, microbiological and technological aspects of different types of fermented foods and beverages produced and consumed in Brazil, such as traditional artisanal cheeses, fermented meat (socol and charqui), non-alcoholic or low-alcohol beverages (aluá, calugi, tarubá and yakupá), alcoholic beverages (cachaça, tiquira, caiçuma, cauim and caxiri) and fermented foods based on cassava (puba, farinha d'água, polvilho azedo and tucupi). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cultivated and plant-based meats are substitutes for conventional animal meat products. As radical innovations, they may trigger profound social and economic changes. Despite the many benefits of alternative meats, such as environmental sustainability, animal welfare, human health and food safety, some unintended consequences remain unexplored in the literature. In this paper, we studied the potential impact of the meat production system transition on jobs. Using a survey, we compared opinions regarding the impact on jobs in Brazil, the United States and Europe, according to alternative protein experts. Our results showed the potential of plant-based and cultivated meat production to create new and higher-skilled jobs. The data analysis also suggested that the impact of novel food production systems on jobs in conventional meat production may be different for each stage of the value chain. In particular, the results showed a pressure point on animal farmers, who may be most affected in a fast transition scenario. Considering the studied geographical contexts, Brazilian professionals were more optimistic about the potential of plant-based and cultivated meat production to create new jobs. Our findings may provide new insights for the development of policies, measures and strategies that promote job creation, skills and income in view of the ongoing transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the impact of the Food Purchase Programme (PAA), a Brazilian public food procurement initiative, on the production value of family farmers. Using a combination of Propensity Score Matching and Difference-in-Differences methods for the period spanning from 2007 to 2016, we observe a significant positive effect of 13.1% on the production value of participating family farmers compared to non-participants. This effect is particularly pronounced among farmers operating smaller and lower-income establishments. Our analysis suggests that increased productivity may serve as a potential mechanism explaining our findings. Additionally, we provide evidence that the PAA program contributes to stabilizing rural incomes and expenditures. Our results have significant policy implications for public food procurement policies, including the importance of focusing on small and low-income agricultural establishments, which may enhance production and alleviate poverty while contributing to family income. • We study the impact of Food Purchase Programs (PAA) on Brazilian family farmers' production. • The production value of participating family farmers increased by 13.1%. • The effect is particularly pronounced for smaller and lower-income family farmers. • Increased productivity may be a potential mechanism to explain our findings. • The PAA contributes to the stabilization of rural incomes and expenditures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although West Indian Cherry (WIC) trees have abundant flowering, specimens of this species have low fructification rates, potentially associated with the dependence of these plants on pollinators for cross‐pollination and fruit production. We quantified fructification rates and assessed the market value of pollination services by conducting an experiment with six treatments, including manual and open pollination, pollinator exclusion treatment, and open pollination with blue and yellow attractants. The investigation occurred at two sampling periods (November–December 2015 and January–February 2016) in a commercial orchard of WIC in Brazil. Despite the six different treatments in the two sampling periods, the fructification rate only differed in open pollination treatments with colour attractants, increasing the fructification rate between 160% (for blue‐coloured attractants) and 240% (for yellow‐coloured attractants). Considering that yield is directly affected by the increase in the fructification rate, the yield might be enhanced by up to 70 ton/ha by the coloured attractants. Economically speaking, this result means an approximate 130% increase in the earnings for farmers and maybe transferable to other crops contributing to food production and recognizing the importance of biodiversity and associated ecosystem services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of JBES: Brazilian Journal of Health Economics / Jornal Brasileiro de Economia da Saúde is the property of JBES: Brazilian Journal of Health Economics and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper examines the construction of peasant territorial resistance in Brazil, as well as their potential. Peasant territorial resistances are actions based on peasant territories, temporalities and territorialities. These are actions, struggles, agendas, practices, movements, techniques and socio-territorial technologies that aim to guarantee greater autonomy to the peasantry in food production, freeing them partially or totally from the shackles of capital. Understanding the dimensions, scales and characteristics of peasant territorial resistance in Brazil, especially those generated within the scope of socioterritorial movements, in an agrarian context that increasingly expropriates, marginalizes and subordinates the peasantry, is the contribution of this work to geographic agrarian and related areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) is a fruit of socioeconomic importance in Brazil, and its consumption occurs in natura and also in the form of processed products. There are a lot of losses that occur along the entire production chain. The disadvantage due to its high perishability becomes a problem for producers. One of the alternatives developed for its use is fermentation, which is an efficient and low-cost technology, being an option for the food industry and the production of fermented beverages. The use of tomato pulp for this type of production will avoid waste, add important nutritional value to the drink and reduce food waste. In the present study, the production of alcoholic fermented beverages was elaborated, analyzed, and compared through the pulp of two tomato varieties, Italian (Solanum lycopersicum) and Sweet Grape (Sweet heaven). Aims: To study the production of alcoholic fermented two tomato varieties, Italian and Sweet Grape. Methods: The concentration of soluble solids, pH and alcohol content (%v/v) were analyzed, in the fermentation process of the two varieties, higher alcohol content was observed in Sweet Grape. Results and Discussion: The results were acceptable, demonstrating that there is a possibility of producing a fermented tomato drink Conclusions: The production of a fermented tomato drink becomes an alternative for the use of the fruits, but it is necessary to make the chaptalization to obtain a higher alcohol content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Segurança Alimentar e Nutricional is the property of Universidade Estadual de Campinas - Portal de Periodicos Eletronicos Cientificos and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction: Salmonella spp. is a pathogen associated with foodborne infections, mainly in foods of animal origin. In this context, the present study investigated the occurrence of Salmonella serotypes, genotypes and the antimicrobial resistance profiles of strains in fresh beef produced in Mato Grosso, Brazil. Methodology: A total of 107 samples from 13 different slaughterhouses in the Mato Grosso were analyzed. Suggestive Salmonella spp. colonies detected during the biochemical screening were submitted to DNA extraction, and hilA gene amplification was used for the PCR reaction. Antimicrobial resistance analyses were performed using 17 antimicrobial agents from eight different classes by the disk diffusion method. Strains exhibiting multiple drug resistances were submitted to PCR genotyping based on repetitive sequences (rep-PCR), using a commercial semiautomatic DiversiLab® system. Results: A total of 5.6% (6/107) of the samples tested positive by the conventional method and were confirmed by PCR, namely two S. Akuafo, two non-typable Salmonella enterica strains, one Salmonella O:16 serovar, and one S. Schwarzengrund. The antimicrobial resistance profiles indicated resistance to gentamicin (30%), tetracycline, nitrofurantoin, and trimethoprim + sulfamethoxazole (16%). Genotyping indicated a 70% difference between S. Schwarzengrund and the non-typable Salmonella strains. No genetic similarities were observed between the six Salmonella isolates based on rep-PCR, including two S. Akuafo. Conclusions: The results obtained herein corroborate that Salmonella serovar Schwarzengrund is commonly isolated in animal products in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil, also highlighting the presence of two unusual Salmonella serovars in beef (Akuafo and O:16). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brazil stands out in the world production of food of animal origin. Among these foods is the fish meat that currently comes from both commercial aquaculture production and extractive fishing. With the increase in fish consumption in Brazil and worldwide, it is important to prevent and control the occurrence of Foodborne Diseases (DTAs). There are several studies relating the presence of bacteria in food outbreaks transmitted by fish, mainly of fish acquired in open markets, however there are few studies regarding parasites in this type of meat, and fish can harbor several parasites. Thus, the objective is to inform parasites that can cause food outbreaks through the consumption of fish both in captivity and in extractive fishing. In Brazil, there is a very shortage of epidemiological data and a consequent lack of diagnosis in both consumer fish and fish-consuming humans. With this, the veterinarian is an important ally as a sanitary agent playing a fundamental role in preventing and helping, in reducing the risks of spreading parasites to humans. It is concluded that the knowledge of zoonotic parasites transmitted by fish is important, both by professionals and by the consumer population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many children do not know the agricultural production system because they live in the city. Therefore, allowing the contact of these children with the different production systems of the food chain means providing new experiences and new concepts. The objective of this work was to explain to children how the food production system works, from its implementation in the field to the final consumer. The project involved the participation of 10 schools and 150 children with ages ranging from 5 to 14 years old in the municipality of Lavras, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Through qualitative methodologies it was possible to assess the impact of the visit on the lives of children, parents and teachers. The activity was developed at the Department of Agriculture of the Federal University of Lavras, involving sectors of fruit, olericulture, coffee and entomology. It was concluded that the experience had a positive impact on the lives of children, parents and teachers, showing that the exposure of children to differentiated experiences further benefits early childhood education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brazil's Atlantic Forest is a biodiversity hotspot. Efforts to restore the forest must address the tradeoffs facing family farmers. In this paper, we combine literature review and empirical analysis to evaluate the ways in which an agroecological practice – Management Intensive Grazing (MIG) – can contribute to sustainable intensification in southern Brazil. Our results show that farmers adopting MIG obtained, in general, better economic and environmental performance, but did not completely renounce the use of external inputs. Forest cover appears to have increased since the promotion of MIG and agroecology in the region and pasture area decreased, therefore, benefiting forest conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Critical scholarship has shown that neoliberalism has reinforced Islamophobia, anti-Muslim racism and projections of Muslims as undesirable in many contexts, particularly in 'the West'. Little is said about other impacts neoliberal ideology has had on the ways Muslim (immigrant) communities are viewed and (dis)integrated into Muslim-minority contexts. Against this backdrop, this paper argues that Muslims can also be desired and systematically mobilized in predominantly non-Muslim countries where neoliberalized economies capitalize on their identities. The argument is illustrated through case studies in contexts of halal food production and trade in New Zealand and Brazil. Drawing on conceptualizations of neoliberal utility/necessity perspectives on immigrants as well as on assemblage thinking, this paper shows, first, that neoliberal restructuring has played a major role in the development of trade relations with the Islamic world and thus in the emergence of demands for Muslim expertise, service providers and workers in both countries. It demonstrates, second, how Muslim identities have been systematically assembled to meet these demands, and third, that the assemblages are at the same time limited by largely (though not exclusively) neoliberal logics. Finally, the paper shows that many of the assembling practices and logics are similar in both contexts and likely to be found elsewhere. Their effects, however, diverge due to different local conditions. The findings imply that relations between neoliberal ideology and the ways Muslims are viewed and (dis)integrated in Muslim-minority contexts are complex and unfold differently across space, and that this complexity deserves greater academic scrutiny. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article canvasses the current definitions and framings of "agroforestry" in different academic literature and policies. Three key framings of "agroforestry" are identified in the scholarship and explored for their differences. The findings suggest that the distinct schools of research on "agroforestry" focus on distinct points of departure, and these baseline situations from which transitions to what is called "agroforestry" occur vary in distinct ways from monoculture plantations to primary forests. Political-economic analysis is used to scrutinize three key "agroforestry" transition categories: agroecological, agribusiness, and forest degradation, which the article identifies as agroecoforestry (the good), agrobizforestry (the bad), and agrodeforestry (the ugly) transitions, respectively. Examples of each type are provided based on field research in Brazil, and the results are put into a global perspective. The categories are helpful in identifying the "agroforestry" transitions that are currently marketed as good solutions but might also have negative impacts and in highlighting the agroecological agroforestry transitions that would help simultaneously increase global food production, adapt to and mitigate the climate crisis, and achieve equity and social justice. • Existing scholarly framings of "agroforestry" are identified and analyzed. • Examples from Brazil are used to illustrate distinct "agroforestry" transitions. • Some transitions called agroforestry entail deforestation or agribusiness expansion. • Agroecological agroforestry increases productivity in socioecologically just ways. • Agroecoforestry transitions demand a strong social carrier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Segurança Alimentar e Nutricional is the property of Universidade Estadual de Campinas - Portal de Periodicos Eletronicos Cientificos and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Segurança Alimentar e Nutricional is the property of Universidade Estadual de Campinas - Portal de Periodicos Eletronicos Cientificos and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This article discusses if and how the practices of vegan restaurants and their consumers converge towards the construction of sustainable food systems. Analysis is supported by concepts issue from Practice Theory and is based on data collected between October 2018 and April 2019 with owners, chefs, nutritionists, managers, and consumers of vegan restaurants in Porto Alegre, Brazil. The research identified and classified three arrangements of practices: production-consumption reconnection, food and nutritional security, and political engagement. Results highlight that, despite a weak engagement with vegan and other food movements, vegan restaurants (and their consumers) develop several practices that contribute to shape more sustainable models of food production, distribution, and consumption. • Veganism may have an important contribution to shape sustainable food systems. • In Brazil, most part of the vegan restaurants demonstrates a weak political engagement with the vegan movement. • Vegan restaurants incorporate several practices reconnecting food production and consumption. • The promotion of food and nutritional security is another recurrent practice among these restaurants and their consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the perceptions and attitudes of artisanal cheese producers (n = 40) in Brazil regarding the implementation of traceability. A questionnaire consisting of 16 statements using a 5-point Likert scale was applied, and descriptive statistics and factor analysis were used for data analysis. The implementation of a traceability system can reduce the number of consumer complaints and the loss of products, in addition to increasing supplier control and process safety, thus protecting health and increasing consumer confidence. However, we did not find consensus on the relationship between implementation of a traceability system and rapid recalls in crisis episodes, or on the reduction in recalls and their negative impact on consumers. Because of the costs that drive implementation of this technology, some artisanal cheese producers do not consider a traceability system as a current reality to monitor their production. We concluded that Brazilian artisanal cheese producers have limited awareness of the impact of traceability implementation, which restricts investments in the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cerrado biome is responsible for part of Brazilian food production. However, due to inadequate soil management practices, large areas of crop and forage are degraded, leading to environmental and economic losses. A crop-livestock-forest system (CLFS) is a sustainable production strategy that integrates different cultivations. This objective of this study was to evaluate agronomic characteristics and maize (Zea mayz L.) yield when consorciated with Panicum maximum cv. Tamani, cultivated between rows of eucalypts clones. The statistical design used was randomized blocks, constituted by the following treatments: Maize + AEC 043; Maize + AEC 007; Maize + AEC 2111; and Maize + AEC 2034. The analyzed variables included: spikes length, number of rows, number of grains per row, number of grains per spike, and grain yield. Based on the obtained data, it is possible to conclude that trees did not affect maize yield in a CLFS. Considering that only 60% of the area was used for agriculture, maize yield was higher than when it is planted in total area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is necessary to think of practical actions and initiatives to help the quality of life of the population and the conservation of the environment. In this sense, this research aims to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG12) with food production through family agriculture in a region of southern Brazil, identifying the potentialities and challenges of the activity. It also intends to determine social, environmental, and economic issues in production, distribution, and consumption on behalf of promoting sustainable development. In this context, to deepen the knowledge of the possibilities for the region under study, focus groups and interviews were conducted with the participation of local actors. The study was conducted in 21 municipalities of Corede Produção region to obtain a diagnosis of the potentialities and challenges of family agriculture. Thus, with the results obtained, it is possible to create opportunities to foster the region through more sustainable agriculture and also contribute to the goals of the SDGs launched by the UN in 2015. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a shortage of studies about slash-and-burn in well-established agricultural systems and its importance for improving food production and enhancing biodiversity and agricultural diversity in the tropics and sub-tropics. A long and important tradition of slash-and-burn in black bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) production persists in the Prudentópolis municipality in southern Brazil. This agricultural system is practised over hilly terrain with shallow soil. In addition, mountainous areas prevent agricultural modernization, ensuring the persistence of this farming technique. Using an official dataset of bean production and semi-structured interviews with farmers and agricultural experts, the paper investigates slash-and-burn characteristics in a consolidated agricultural region and assesses the prospects for its persistence. The slash-and-burn system, intended mainly for bean crops, corresponds to 30% of the total bean yield in Prudentópolis. Slash-and-burn agriculture has a vital role to play for local food production and a sustainable eco-system. Therefore, a demographic and land-use transition might be experienced in this region and in similar regions in the tropics, with social and environmental implications for food production, land use dynamics and rural migration and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies recognize that environmentally oriented anticonsumption gives power to individuals who are willing to express their environmental concerns. Yet, it goes beyond consumers' decisions and should also include producers' practices and discourses. In this study, we explore the food system context and the emergence of organic food as a more sustainable and healthy food production mode to describe the role of organic farmers in building social and material arrangements against conventional food production and consumption. Our empirical study involved an interpretative approach based on 29 interviews with Brazilian organic farmers and experts in organic production. The findings indicate that farmers explore two different discursive mechanisms to build arguments that support the hegemonic and conventional food production system. Farmers also perform two sets of supporting practices that allow the construction of an alternative approach to food production and consumption. We conclude that farmers' discourses and practices build an alternative food system, enabling conventional food anticonsumption. This study contributes to the literature of anticonsumption by expanding the traditional consumer‐centric perspective through the inclusion of the producer perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rural areas in the southern region of Brazil are primarily occupied by smallholder farms where a variety of food crops are cultivated. Sugarcane is one of the most common food crop in this region because it is used in animal feed and as feedstock in production of brown sugar, schimier, sugarcane syrup, cachaça, and hydrous ethanol fuel (HEF). This study evaluated a small farm in a basalt hill region of Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. The raw material was processed in a family agro-industry with small-scale HEF production and food products from sugarcane. The study was based in an average cultivation area of 15 ha. In industrial stage, an economic assessment was developed according to operational diversity of industrial production (HEF and food products). Payback for production of brown sugar, sugarcane syrup, schimier, and cachaça, were 0.53, 0.36, 0.77 and 3.85, respectively, whereas HEF was not economically viable. This study demonstrated that small-scale sugarcane production can be economically and environmentally attractive. This is because the technologies necessary for agricultural cultivation and industrial processing are simplified, the process is capable of generating a range of marketable products, and the wastes (specially bagasse) can be reutilized in the agro-industrial process. The proposed model has potential to be utilized in regions with similar characteristics as those considered in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autochthonous microbiota from artisanal cheeses is predominantly composed of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), which are able to produce antimicrobial compounds, such as bacteriocins, suggesting their application in food biopreservation. Knowledge about LAB growth and bacteriocin production during food production and conservation is essential to determine their use. In this way, the study aimed at isolating bacteriocinogenic LAB from twenty-one artisanal Colonialtype cheeses obtained from the western region of Parana state, Brazil, determining the best conditions for growth and bacteriocin production (25°C, 30°C, and 37°C/24h); bacteriocin stability under different ranges of pH (2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 for 2h) and temperature (60oC/2h; 80oC/2h; 121oC/15min). Their activity against different target microorganisms was also evaluated. A total of 34 LAB strains presented characteristics compatible with bacteriocin production. Most of them presented better results for bacteriocin production when cultured at 25°C and 30°C. Bacteriocins remained active against L. monocytogenes when exposed from pH 4 to 8 and a wide temperature range; some bacteriocins were even resistant to sterilization temperatures. Bacteriocins produced were able to inhibit spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms, such as L. monocytogenes, B. cereus, and P. fluorescens. These results indicated that isolated bacteriocinogenic LAB present potential to be used as food biopreservatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Carta Económica Regional is the property of Universidad de Guadalajara and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study aims to analyse citizens' sustainability attitudes towards food production in the EU, Brazil, and China (n = 2885), using pork as an exemplary production system. The objective is to map citizens' attitudes towards sustainable characteristics of pig production systems, and investigate whether these attitudes coincide with people's general attitudes towards sustainability, on one hand, and their consumption of specific pork products, on the other. A conjoint experiment was designed to evaluate citizens' preferences towards pig production systems with varying sustainability levels. Conjoint analysis results were then used for a subsequent cluster analysis in order to identify international citizen clusters across the three continents. Respondents' sociodemographic profile, attitudes towards sustainability issues, and consumption frequency of various pork products are used to profile resulting segments. Results for the three continents point out that general sustainability attitudes relate to citizens' attitudes towards pig farming only for specific small-sized social groups. However, what the large majority of respondents think in their role as citizens related to pig production did not appear to influence their pork consumption choices significantly. The main implication of this finding is that while critical attitudes only weakly influence purchasing behaviour, they may, however, still be expressed in the public debate and influence policy formation at national and global levels. This study therefore provides valuable insights to policymakers and practitioners for improvements in an integrated management of food chains to meet consumer sustainability-related expectations better. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

[Display omitted] • Presence of weeds did not reduce rice production. • Birds and dragonflies presence improved intact grain count and weight. • Rice production risen from 190 to 261 bags.ha−1 in presence of natural enemies. In recent years, the global food-insecure population has increase. To improve food production while safeguarding the environment, ecological intensification techniques have become crucial. Considering rice's significance in feeding half the world, here we focused on the role of weeds, birds, and dragonflies, organisms that naturally occur in crop fields, in a paddy field in Brazil. We observed no significant differences in rice production between areas with or without a second weeding. However, access restriction experiments revealed that the presence of birds and dragonflies led to a remarkable 37% increase in rice yield, equivalent to approximately 71.6 additional bags per hectare. Results reinforce that promoting biodiversity-friendly practices in agriculture is essential for sustainable farming and aligns with global biodiversity initiatives, including COP 15, the 43rd Conference of FAO, and the Sustainable Rice Platform's Standard for Sustainable Rice Cultivation. Emphasizing these practices will not only enhance food production but also contribute to a healthier environment for generations to come. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this article is to analyze the Brazilian National Food and Nutrition Security Policy (PNSAN) and its implementation towards indigenous peoples. To do this, a socio-demographic description of the indigenous peoples of Brazil is made to have a general overview of the characteristics of this population. Likewise, the legal framework, structure, components and concrete actions of the PNSAN are analyzed. The findings indicate that, in the case of indigenous peoples, although there is significant progress in the inclusion of their participation in the processes of the politics, there are still several things to do before they can reach a full adaptation. In broader terms, the ethnic diversity recognized in the PNSAN must include an adequate quantification of the various vulnerable groups that make up Brazilian society, as well as the design of a policy that resolves conflicts in the distribution of land that contributes to stimulating the production of food in indigenous communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Short marketing circuits and territorial rural development policies emphasize the importance of the reconnection between food production and consumption, with repercussions on the food security and sovereignty of local populations. For this, we analyzed official documents of the Program for the Sustainable Development of Rural Territories, the Citizenship Territories Program, the Territorial Development Plans, as well as field research on projects carried out in three rural territories and citizenship in the South of Brazil. From this analysis, it is possible to think of the strengthening of short circuits as the mechanism to promote rural territorial development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the demographic expansion, the demand in the food production and intense use of pesticides was increased, aiming the high index of production. The exposure of humans to pesticides is a serious public health problem, and there seems insoluble. The objective of this review was to address the impacts caused to the environment and to human health, due to the use of pesticides. A bibliographic review was carried out, with a survey of scientific articles on the use of pesticides in Brazil, from 1997 to 2018, using descriptors such as pesticides, human health, Brazil and contamination. Several pathologies and changes in the human organism were found due to the exposure to pesticides. Rural workers must use basic protection against exposure to pesticides, and the aerial spraying technique must be carried out and programmed correctly, so that the phenomenon of drift is minimized, reducing human and environmental contamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Highlights • Structural factors shape farmers' perceptions of integrated crop livestock systems. • Adopters perceived large advantages from adopting ICLS, while most non-adopters did not. • Supply chain and labor market limitations are perceived adoption barriers. • Perceived unsupportive regulations and preferences for existing traditions also impede adoption. • Improved credit, land tenure, infrastructure, and rural education may improve adoption. Abstract Sustainable intensification of existing global croplands and rangelands is a pressing challenge to reconcile competing demands on land systems for food production and conservation of natural ecosystems. In Brazil, the world's second-largest beef-producing country, intensification of pasture-based production systems is central to both improving livelihoods and reducing deforestation, since low-productivity, low-income cattle ranches occupy a majority of the agricultural land area. Integrated crop-livestock systems (ICLS) present a promising opportunity in the array of possible agricultural intensification strategies for Brazil because they have the potential to reclaim vast areas of degraded pastures while mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. Much of the previous research on ICLS, particularly in Brazil, has focused on agronomic and economic aspects. Here we examine local perspectives of ICLS to better illuminate what other concerns, besides agronomic and economic outcomes, might guide farmers' decisions to adopt this (and other) agricultural intensification strategies. We are particularly interested in the degree to which structural factors interact with personal experiences to shape information and values and farmers' understanding of the costs and benefits of adopting a new technology. Using semi-structured interviews with a diverse sample of producers in four states in the Brazilian Amazon, we find that existing adopters perceived ICLS as a beneficial strategy for increasing the economic value and competitiveness of their farm, while most non-adopters did not. Ranchers in particular perceived intensification as a necessity to maintain their livelihood amidst declining profits and increased environmental oversight. However, both adopters and non-adopters described numerous structural barriers that impeded greater adoption of ICLS in the region, including problems obtaining qualified labor, a lack of marketing options, poor infrastructure, an unsupportive regulatory environment, and in some regions, poorly drained soils. Furthermore, non-monetary motives, such as maintaining one's existing quality of life and traditions, often drove decisions regardless of expected profit-maximization pathways. This work underscores the need to employ a more diverse set of policy tools beyond credit subsidies to encourage adoption of sustainable intensification strategies, including education programs, payments for the ecosystem services, and improved transportation and supply chain infrastructure that can support intensification and help create a climate of innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brazilian agricultural productive process has increasingly become more dependent of agrotoxic use. In 2009, Brazil reached the spot of world's largest consumer of such products. The present research intends to investigate the perception of students from senior year of a rural high school placed on the Lerrovile district, city of Londrina-PR, upon the use of agrotoxic on food production and social-environmental issues caused due to it, as well as alternatives on the production of healthier food. On the execution of this paper, two work fronts were taken: on office and on field. Preliminarily, bibliographic survey, documental and electronic research, reading and selection of literature that characterize technified agriculture on one side, and agrotoxic consumption, on the other; organizing a set of questions and applying previously planned and scheduled interviews for data gathering through the development of a focal group. Therefore, although this research has approached economic and politic aspects intrinsic to agriculture modernization, it also addressed the recognition and the appreciation of cultural processes present on rural agricultural production experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the environmental and social importance of organic food production and increased supply and demand for organic products in the world and in Brazil, the Brazilian Federal Government began a process of regulation of organic agriculture from 1999. In this sense, this article recovers the history of institutionalization of federal regulations pertaining to organic systems of agricultural production in the country, indicating relevant aspects and some changes during 17 years of evolution of this regulatory process. The methodology used was based on the analysis of 30 regulations regarding the organic production in Brazil, highlighting the four most relevant statutes (Normative Instruction 07 of 1999; Law 10,831 of 2003; Decree 6323 of 2007 and Decree 7792 of 2012). Papers were also used to discuss the relevance and the fundamentals of organic agriculture and agroecology; the Brazilian contradictions concerning agribusiness and sustainable agriculture; conflicts in the governmental sphere – highlighting positions of Ministry of Agriculture (MAPA) and Ministry of Agrarian Development (MDA) and in the relationships established between different actors and institutions, focusing on Brazilian literature. The results indicate that these rules have contributed to the institutional strengthening of organic agriculture and agroecology in Brazil. Nevertheless, the budgetary resources destined to this type of public policy are pitiful compared to those destined for conventional agriculture. Its indicates that although some important advances on organic agriculture and agroecology public policies, the Brazilian government continues prioritizing agribusiness, featured pesticides and GMO uses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In impoverished semi-arid regions in the world, reservoirs serve multiple purposes, including food provision through fisheries and aquaculture. Yet, the socio-economic benefits of promoting both activities remain unclear. We independently assessed the socio-economic benefits generated from fisheries and aquaculture, in two reservoirs in the Brazilian semi-arid region (June 2013 to June 2014). These reservoirs produced 27.75 ton of farmed tilapia over a year ( USD Purchasing Power Parities [ PPP] 88,778.73) and provided at least 16.5 ton of fish through fisheries ( USD PPP 37,557.81), based on data from four farmer associations. Our input-output model revealed that the local economy depends on both activities, which, therefore, contribute similarly to providing goods and services to different branches. Aquaculture generated much higher revenues (seven times) than fisheries, but also much higher losses (the most successful farm yielded an average income of USD PPP 592.41 monthly). Still, there were no statistical differences in income among the compared associations. Fisheries provided very but guaranteed income ( USD PPP 311.02 ± 82.94) and employed over three times as many people and contributed much more (>3 times) to food security than aquaculture. Encouraging aquaculture through specific policies while overlooking fisheries is not advisable because poor fishers would not be able to deal with unpredictable outcomes and it would put their food security at risk. However, if initial external support is provided to fishers in order to buffer large losses, aquaculture could represent a way out of poverty by generating an opportunity for larger gains, as long as potential negative ecological impacts of aquaculture are accounted for. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]