Participatory Guarantee System and Social Capital for Sustainable Development in Brazil: The Case Study of OPAC Orgânicos Sul de Minas

Biancamaria Torquati,Riccardo Da Re,Fabio Maria Santucci,Sergio Pedini

doi:10.3390/su132011555

Abstract

In recent years there has been a growing international interest in alternative certification strategies for organic products. Specifically, participatory guarantee systems (PGS) have proved to be particularly suitable not only to simplify bureaucratic procedures for small organic producers and reduce the cost of certification, but also to generate empowerment, social inclusion and mutual support among farmers. The purpose of this paper is to study the elements of social capital (SC) found in a PGS through the use of social network indicators using the Organizaçao Participativa de Acreditaçao e Certificaçao “Orgânicos Sul de Minas” (OPAC-OSM) as a case study. The research was carried out in the southern part of Minas Gerais, one of the states of the Brazilian Federation, where organic production represents a viable alternative for small and medium-sized farmers. In particular, a survey was carried out to capture the opinions of managers (presidents or directors) about their participation in the OPAC-OSM, and about the level of interaction and degree of trust between members. Relational skills, which are the basis of structural SC, were analyzed both at the level of individual units and at the level of the general network of the OPAC-OSM. An in-degree centrality score assigned to OPAC-OSM members was obtained from each network. These scores have been correlated with variables of the database that were chosen due to their relevance in assessing the level of social capital. According to the results, the factors that most reinforced the proof of SC among the OPAC-OSM members were the level of information and the degree of trust and collaboration networks, with special emphasis on female participation. From the analysis carried out, it is possible to conclude that PGS are powerful tools in the strengthening of SC far beyond the aspect of quality assurance, which remains the main objective of the OPAC.

Highlights

Our study started from the assumption that the OPAC, based on shared principles belonging to the participatory guarantee systems (PGS) and structurally represented through a network, represents the tangible expression of social capital (SC)
Aware that the existence of a network is a necessary but not sufficient condition for the formation of SC [39], we analyzed the intangible part of the SC by focusing on the interaction between the members of the OPAC-OSM in order to assess information flows, reputational power, and the level of trust between members
The size of reputational power has highlighted a wealth of cooperative networks generated in particular by some of the network members (AAOF, Rama, Coopfam, Camponesa)

Summary

Introduction

Over the past two decades, the organic food market has grown significantly. Worldwide sales of organic food has gone from 13 billion dollars, as recorded in 1998, to exceeding the 100 billion dollar threshold in 2018 [1], which corresponds to about 2.6% of the global food market. In the market of organic products, consumer trust is a relevant and delicate component since it is difficult for the consumer to verify whether the food is really organic. Organic products are defined as “credence goods”, i.e., products whose qualities are fundamentally relevant for their purchase, but at the same time are difficult or impossible to evaluate autonomously [2,3,4,5]. Consumers often rely on third-party certifications to develop

Objectives

Results

Conclusion