Dinâmicas informais das agroindústrias familiares no território : o caso do município de Santa Cruz do Sul - RS/Brasil.

Abstract

This dissertation's theme concerns "the informal dynamics of family agriculture industries in the territory". identified in this research as Rural Family Agriculture Industries (AFRIs). Its purpose was to analyse the concrete and contextual conditions that influence family farmers to "bet" on the informality of agriculture industry processes. Family farming has been constantly challenged to remain present and active in the territory, amidst a global scenario strongly inclined towards specialization of agricultural activities. One alternative that has been developed throughout history is the processing of raw materials, especially foods, which consists of the know how transmitted throughout the generations among family farmers. For the empiric confirmation of this research, the territory of Santa Cruz do Sul was contemplated, predominantly its commodity chain of tobacco. The method used in the research consists of the theoretical assumptions rooted in the base of dialectic historical materialism. Thus, it presents conflicts and contradictions regarding informal foods processing activities as a relevant sociocultural and economical reference for the territory. Moreover, it analyzes the sanitary demands and the production traditions, processing, consumption and commercialization of foods in short commodity chains. It was found that the informality in family agriculture industries is not simply a transitory situation, as per a few studies. It is the system of diversified production, processing of raw materials and commercialization that provides sustainability, as families' strategies of production and reproduction. In the context of this research, informality presents itself as resistance. It manifests as a factor to be thought over, in the face of the transformations caused by the global domination mechanisms.