Interface Between Family Farming and School Feeding: barriers and coping mechanisms from the perspective of different social actors in Southern Brazil

Márcia Pozzagnol Mossmann,Rozane Marcia Triches,Carla Rosane Paz Arruda Teo,Maria Assunta Busato

doi:10.1590/1234-56781806-94790550207

Abstract

Abstract: Family farming came to school as a public policy in Brazil, linked to National School Feeding Program (PNAE - Programa Nacional de Alimentação Escolar, in Portuguese). In order to discuss the interface between family farming and school feeding, regarding barriers and coping mechanisms, 35 social actors were interviewed in Santa Catarina, Southern Brazil. The barriers were cost of goods, bureaucracy, insufficient technical assistance, resistance to changes, weaknesses in the organization of farmers and public managers. The conclusion is that studied interface has being built in facing those obstacles with dialogue mechanisms, intersectionality, investment, training activities and organization.

Highlights

Farming has been recognized as strategic for achievements in the field of sovereignty and food and nutrition security, as well as for the protection of agricultural biodiversity and sustainable use of natural resources, for the appreciation of traditional foods and the preservation of cultural diversity, representing an opportunity to boost local economies (FAO, 2014)
In Brazil, family farming came to the school as a public policy, linked to the National School Feeding Program (PNAE – Programa Nacional de Alimentação Escolar in Portuguese), in 2009
From that law, according to Article 14, at least, 30% of funds transferred by the Federal Government to cities through the National Fund for Education Development (FNDE – Fundo Nacional do Desenvolvimento da Educação, in Portuguese) must be used for the purchase of healthy food produced by local family farmers

Summary

Introduction

Farming has been recognized as strategic for achievements in the field of sovereignty and food and nutrition security, as well as for the protection of agricultural biodiversity and sustainable use of natural resources, for the appreciation of traditional foods and the preservation of cultural diversity, representing an opportunity to boost local economies (FAO, 2014). From that law, according to Article 14, at least, 30% of funds transferred by the Federal Government to cities through the National Fund for Education Development (FNDE – Fundo Nacional do Desenvolvimento da Educação, in Portuguese) must be used for the purchase of healthy food produced by local family farmers In this case, preference should be given to organic foods as well as those produced by indigenous communities, maroon and agrarian reform settlements. Márcia Pozzagnol Mossmann, Carla Rosane Paz Arruda Teo, Maria Assunta Busato and Rozane Marcia Triches 3 2 7 farming products, since the prices are consistent with those on the local market and that food meets the requirements of quality control established by existing health conditions (BRASIL, 2009) This public procurement model originates from the Food Acquisition Program (PAA – Programa de Aquisição de Alimentos, in Portuguese), established in 2003 by Federal Law n. The aim is to discuss how the interface between family farming and school feeding has being built in cities of Santa Catarina state, Brazil, in terms of the factors that represent obstacles to its consolidation and on those that are mechanisms for addressing and overcoming those limitations, from the perspective of different social actors involved in the process

Theoretical basis

Background

Methodology

Results and discussion

Final thoughts