Growth and productive sophistication of Minas Artisanal Cheese from Canastra: an analysis based on innovative processes in natural resources

Abstract

This article aims to delineate the role of innovation in the successful outcomes of Minas Artisanal Cheese (QMA) from Canastra. The methodological foundation is built upon literature review, documentary analysis, field research, and interviews. Our findings reveal the interplay between traditional and scientific knowledge as a pivotal element in the productive sophistication of Canastra’s QMA, facilitating work enhancement and striving to meet consumer market demands while maintaining local know-how and practices, which the society-nature relationship has historically shaped. The discussion is situated within the realm of empirical studies on natural resource-based innovation in Latin America and reflections on Territorial Innovation Systems (TIS), which consider a multiscale perspective of the innovation process prevalent in studies in the field of Knowledge and Innovation Geography. Despite advancements, we underscore that the establishment of Canastra’s QMA still faces challenges stemming from typical structural frailties of peripheral TIS. We aspire that these results not only contribute to comprehending the productive region of Canastra’s QMA but also serve as a supportive framework for innovation policies that acknowledge the necessity of contextual considerations in regional realities.