Social Innovation and Sustainable Rural Development: The Case of a Brazilian Agroecology Network

Oscar Rover,Luigi Roselli,Bernardo De Gennaro

doi:10.3390/su9010003

Abstract

Food is central to human beings and their social life. The growing industrialization of the food system has led to a greater availability of food, along with an increasing risk perception and awareness in consumers. At the same time, there is an increasing resistance from citizens to the dominant model of production and a growing demand for healthy food. As a consequence, an increasing number of social networks have been formed worldwide involving the collaboration between producers and consumers. One of these networks, the Ecovida Agroecology Network, which operates in Southern Brazil, involves farming families, non-governmental organizations, and consumer organizations, together with other social actors. Using a qualitative approach based on participant observation and an analysis of documents, the article examines this network. The theoretical framework used is social innovation, which is commonly recognized as being fundamental in fostering rural development. Results show that Ecovida has instigated innovations that relate to its horizontal and decentralized structure, its participatory certification of organic food, and its dynamic relationship with the markets based on local exchanges and reciprocal relations. Furthermore, such innovation processes have been proven to impact on public sector policies and on the increasing cooperation between the social actors from rural and urban areas.

Highlights

Rural areas generally lack support in their development, as urban investment normally provides quicker and larger returns
Social innovation is a key element for any institution, movement, or social network in terms of both organizational and territorial development
One way to innovate within rural areas is to transform the organization of the food system into a decentralized social network, acting over a wide geographical area, generating favourable conditions for small-scale farmers to improve their access to the market and to receive differential treatment from public policies

Summary

Introduction

Rural areas generally lack support in their development, as urban investment normally provides quicker and larger returns. One way to innovate within rural areas is to transform the organization of the food system into a decentralized social network, acting over a wide geographical area, generating favourable conditions for small-scale farmers to improve their access to the market and to receive differential treatment from public policies (e.g., the institutionalization of participatory certification schemes, structural support to organize local and network markets). This is the working principle of Rede Ecovida de Agroecologia (Eco-life Network for Agroecology, hereinafter referred to as Ecovida), which operates in Southern.

The Theoretical Framework

Methodological Approach

Social Set-Up of the Markets

Discussion and Concluding

Findings

Influence of non-social elements on decisions of social actors