Scope of sustainability - do castor beans and the biodiesel industry offer family farmers a sustainable development opportunity in Brazil?

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference paperAcademic

Abstract

Sustainable bio-energy is interwoven with sustainable rural development for family farmers. In this context, the Brazilian government is pursuing a “social inclusion” goal by means of family farmers providing a fraction of biodiesel feedstock. In 2009, the state-run petroleum company established a biodiesel plant in the north of Minas Gerais State. Family farmers in this region are faced with the prospect of entering agreements with the industry to provide castor beans (castor). Fewer family farmers than anticipated are engaging and this raises doubts regarding the sustainability of this option for family farmers (da Silva César and Batalha 2010). Exploration into the sustainability of such farmer-industry agreements from the farm-level perspective is timely. We conduct an exploratory assessment using sustainability indicators. We aim to: (i) capture and explore the scope of sustainability if family farmers choose to cultivate castor and (ii) explain sustainability as a function of current yield levels, alternative yield levels and alternative management decisions at the farm level.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 5th WCCA - World Congress on Conservation Agriculture incorporating 3rd Farming Systems Conference Design Conference, 26-29 Sept. 2011, Brisbane, Australia
Pages314-315
Publication statusPublished - 2011
EventResilient Food Systems for a Changing World, Proceedings of the 5th World Congress of Conservation Agriculture in corporating 3rd Farming Systems Design Conference, Brisbane, Australia -
Duration: 26 Sept 201129 Sept 2011

Conference/symposium

Conference/symposiumResilient Food Systems for a Changing World, Proceedings of the 5th World Congress of Conservation Agriculture in corporating 3rd Farming Systems Design Conference, Brisbane, Australia
Period26/09/1129/09/11

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