Ecolabeling as a Sustainability Strategy for Smallholder Farming? The Emergence of Participatory Certification Systems in Brazil

Abstract

This article explores the emergence of ecolabeling of organic products in the context of the contemporary debate on global risks related to food production and consumption, focusing in particular on the implications for smallholder farming in Brazil. Independent certification is sustained by technical and bureaucratic mechanisms, sanctioned by international organizations and multilateral agencies whose power structures encourage the production of rules and systems of enforcement. By contrast, local food movements and civil society initiatives point to the emergence of alternative, participatory forms of ecolabeling. These local organizations have come up with new ways of constructing collective quality seals and assurances for products. They have spurred debates on the technologies, power structures and risks associated with corporate agriculture, large-scale pesticide use and chemically grown produce. As an alternative, ecolabeling requires a multi-level articulation of smallholder farming, food cooperatives and farmer markets, in order to create a local certification system for eco-sustainable produce and maintain the sustainability of traditional modes of existence of small farmers. Grounded in a long-term ethnographic study among ecological family farming in the western region of Santa Catarina, Brazil, this paper examines ecolabeling legal frameworks both globally and locally. It highlights the complexity of the eco-labeling process in Brazil, a context where diverse farmers' movements, non-governmental organizations and technical and State political actors grapple with questions relating to the social and economic values of sustainable organic agriculture. The data presented here is based on bibliographical, documental research and analysis of laws, decrees and norms. The study examines the recent historical process involving certification rules and regulations, especially those affecting agriculture. It also surveys the literature on the topic, bringing to light interpretive variations and other cases offering a contrast to Brazil's experience.

Masificación de la agroecología: impulsores clave y casos emblemáticos

“…Los mercados son los que más contribuyen a los movimientos agroecológicos en casos como el de la Red Ecovida y el de la producción de café orgánico de Chiapas, donde están anidados dentro de redes cuyos elementos unificadores son los valores ambientales y sociales. La Red Ecovida asegura el cumplimiento de estos valores a través de un sistema de garantía participativo que construye capacidades y relaciones internas en lugar de perpetuar la dependencia de la certificación externa (Radomsky & Leal, 2015).…”

Alternative certification system for supply chain sustainability: how stakeholder alignment affects institutionalization

“…For example, blueberry farmers in Michigan, USA, noted that TPC standard groups require factory equipment and workforce investments of greater than USD 100K (Busch and Bain, 2004). To avoid such barriers to entry, PGS gathers its diverse stakeholders from a certification community (Radomsky and Niederle, 2015). To set certification standards, they collaboratively weigh the local production environment, consumer needs and audit concerns (Cu ellar-Padilla and Calle-Collado, 2011).…”

“…Although some studies have confirmed PGS sustainability improvements based on the reintegration of food systems into local socio-ecological contexts (Nelson et al, 2010;Radomsky and Niederle, 2015), others have highlighted the risk of learning competition among constituents (Larsson et al, 1998) weakening resource sharing and recognition. Therefore, in hypothesis development, this study clarifies the determinants of PGS recognition via stakeholder acceptance of PGS procedures, assignments and resource-sharing schemes to enhance the institutionalization of PGS.…”

As qualidades singulares dos orgânicos

“…convencionais. Não é à toa que a emergência das certificações participativas surgiu tanto como resposta à imposição de padrões ditados por mercados globais, os quais favoreciam aqueles que tivessem condições para arcar com os custos e à conformação de normativas, como por um comprometimento e confiança de pequenos produtores em relação aos seus pares e a definições a respeito de sustentabilidade (RADOMSKY;LEAL, 2015;MONTEFRIO;JOHNSON, 2019;LOCONTO;HATANAKA, 2017). Assim, o maior desafio enfrentado por tais propostas de irem além de nichos de mercado foi o reconhecimento formal de tais organizações perante as legislações nacionais e a equivalência da conformidade orgânica com relação às práticas da auditoria (NELSON, et al, 2010).…”