One of the characteristics of the semi-arid region is rainfall instability. In this sense, this research sought to answer the following question: Can it be said that farmers in Ceará who cultivate rainfed crops develop adaptive characteristics to the difficulties caused by rainfall instability that allow them to say that they practice climate-resilient agriculture in the period from 1945 to 2020? In order to answer this question, it has the following specific objectives: a) to classify the distribution of rainfall in Ceará from 1901 to 2020 into three periods; b) to examine the years in which these periods occurred between 1945 and 2020; c) to evaluate the behavior of rice, bean, cassava and corn production in the state in each of these periods; d) to estimate the instabilities of rainfall, as well as those associated with the variables that define the production of the crops studied; e) to verify whether there is resilience in the production of these crops to the occurrence of droughts, as defined in this study. The rainfall data used was taken from NOAA (2022) covering the period from 1901 to 2020. Information on the crops studied is available from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) for the period 1945/2020. The research shows how rainfed crops can contribute to regional development. Instabilities were estimated using the coefficients of variation. Factor analysis was used to construct the synergy index. The results showed the existence of self-resilience in the production of the crops studied. Keywords: dryland food crops; drought; rainfall instability; rural development in semi-arid regions; regional development.

This article analyzes the effects of federal tax incentives on the fiscal balance of municipalities, focusing on 25 local governments in the microregion of Governador Valadares between 2003 and 2021. A panel data model was applied to assess the relationship between the simultaneous occurrence of IPI, ICMS-export and PIS/COFINS exemptions and the Fiscal Balance Quotient (FBQ). The findings indicate that such incentives, when not accompanied by compensatory mechanisms, contribute to the deterioration of municipal budgetary balance. The research highlights that tax waiver policies, implemented without federative coordination, may restrict local fiscal capacity and compromise the provision of essential public services. It concludes that fiscal policy design must consider territorial impacts and include instruments that safeguard subnational fiscal sustainability Keywords: tax incentives; fiscal balance; municipal finance.

The sugarcane-energy sector is crucial to Brazil's sustainable development, among other reasons, due to the environmental benefits generated, especially in renewable energy generation. To address the challenges facing this sector, this study aimed to spatially group sugarcane-energy plants using the Skater clustering methodology and, thus, propose an industrial cluster policy for the industry. To this end, data on electricity generation from sugarcane bagasse in Brazil were used, as well as data on the location of universities and research centers linked to the sector, the distances between plants and power transmission substations, and other variables representing the logistics of the sugarcane-energy sector. As a result, the optimal number of clusters was estimated at seven. Based on the results obtained, it was found that the largest clusters, in terms of number of companies, encompass the traditional sugarcane-producing regions, where most sugarcane-energy companies are located. These larger clusters are in: a) the southern region, the western part of the southeastern region, and the south of the state of Mato Grosso do Sul; b) the eastern part of the southeastern region; c) the coast of the northeastern region. The remaining clusters are distributed throughout the rest of Brazil but are equally important from an economic and technological perspective, despite having a smaller number of companies. Some bottlenecks regarding technological modernization, logistics, and energy dispatch have been identified. Therefore, clustering is important for solving sector problems by considering the diverse regional characteristics. Keywords: spatial cluster; bioenergy; sustainable development; energy policy.

This paper presents the productive dynamics of the municipalities of the Centro-Norte of Brazil in the first decades of the 21st century. The Location Quotient (QL) was created and the values were compared with the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of each municipality. For this purpose, secondary data were obtained from the Ministério do Trabalho e Emprego (MTE), in the Relação Anual de Informações Sociais (RAIS) database. It was observed that the municipalities that operate in the mining sector had higher GDP values, Parauapebas and Canaã dos Carajás, in Pará. Most municipalities in the Centro-Norte had high QL values for the public administration. The branch of activity with the greatest expression in is agriculture. Therefore, it is suggested that future studies be carried out in the North Center with the objective of identifying regional disparities more clearly and proposing more incisive public policies for residents, considering their role steakholders. Keywords: agricultural frontier; public policies; regional development; productive specialization.

This work aims to analyze the determinants of the location of biogas generators in Paraná, in order to verify the combination of criteria for the construction of these units and their contributions to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), for which the logistic regression method was used. Of the 41 municipalities in the state that host biogas generating units, the results demonstrated that the variables related to the pig herd, rural electricity consumption and jobs in the agricultural sector were considered significant, with the pig herd being the most significant variable. The concentration of these units occurs especially in the West and Southwest regions, driven by cooperative models and a greater supply of raw materials. Although variables such as corn, soybean and milk production do not present statistical significance, their energy potential is recognized. Considering the data analyzed, it can be concluded that biogas becomes an important tool to promote energy self-sufficiency in rural areas, as it is directly linked to the SDGs, and that biogas systems have the potential to be an economic alternative in agricultural activity, converting an environmental liability into an economic asset. Keywords: regional development; energy sustainability; biogas; territorial dynamics; environmental liabilities.

This article examines the public policy landscape within the context of bioeconomy, focusing on the perspectives of key government institutions in the Brazilian state of Amazonas. It aims to understand the current situation and potential challenges related to implementing these policies. The research adopts a qualitative approach, based on interviews with representatives of state government agencies. The interviewees’ perceptions were analyzed using IRaMuTeQ software, which enabled the identification of word patterns and recurring themes. The results offer a broader view of the bioeconomy in Amazonas and support the hypothesis that, according to government agency representatives, public policies for bioeconomy in the state are insufficient to support the development of this sector. Keywords: Amazonas; public policies; economy; bioeconomy; IRaMuTeQ.

Environmental education is a widely discussed field that benefits from networking among institutions with common goals. The objective of this research is to present a teaching practice for environmental education that combines the participation of different institutions. This collaborative network proposal involves a municipal school, an agricultural research and rural extension company, and a city hall. The methodology included a literature review, a case study, a visit to a bioactive plant garden, and an analysis of the results. The case study began by addressing theoretical content in science, geography, and history courses for 4th-grade students. This was followed by a visit to the garden to complement learning, demonstrating the value of integrating theory and practice in environmental education. The collaborative network, which leveraged the expertise of each institution, had a positive impact on environmental education, promoting behavioral changes and strengthening sustainability awareness. Keywords: Environmental Education; Interdisciplinarity; Cooperation Networks; School Environment; Bioactive Plant Garden.

This article analyzes the spatial transformations in employment within the Manufacturing Industry in the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo (RMSP) between 1990 and 2022. Using RAIS data for all 645 municipalities in the state of São Paulo, indicators of employment evolution and concentration were developed, alongside an Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis (ESDA), including maps by employment range and by industrial clusters (LISA). The results show a progressive reduction in both the absolute number and relative share of industrial employment in the RMSP, indicating a clear process of industrial deconcentration at multiple scales. A decrease in employment concentration across municipalities was also observed, with a noticeable shift of industrial clusters toward the interior of the state, particularly along the São Paulo-Campinas axis. Although more limited, the study also identified an interiorization of industrial activity toward more remote regions, usually located near major highways, suggesting a non-random and spatially selective pattern of deconcentration. These findings reinforce the hypothesis of a “concentrated deconcentration” of São Paulo’s industry and contribute to the debate on the territorial impacts of recent transformations in Brazil’s industrial sector. Keywords: deconcentrating; manufacturing industry; exploratory spatial data analysis (esda); metropolitan region of São Paulo.

In 2017, the municipal government of Curitiba, capital of the state of Paraná, began installing boxes containing native beehives in its parks and public spaces, raising questions about the real impacts produced by this initiative. Using the typology framework for studies in public policies, we sought to perceive the real, symbolic, false or meaningless nuances present in the aforementioned action, which is called Jardins de Mel (Honey Gardens). The study presents an effort of documentary analysis and historical contextualization of the project, with data collected between September 2017 and April 2024, through several publications available on the internet, in addition to the bibliographic survey carried out in April 2024. Another element present in this work is the review of the bibliography used to build the theoretical-practical relationship. The information obtained allowed us to conclude that the project proposed to the citizens of Curitiba covers all the theorized types, although it confirms the preponderance of pseudo-political elements, demonstrating that the theoretical model applied, through the use of interpretative and argumentative methods, can contribute significantly to the understanding of intentions-actions of public managers, suggesting new discussions that evaluate the impacts of ecosystem services, species preservation and environmental education. Keywords: urban meliponiculture; stingless bees; public policy; pseudo policies.

This article aims to present theoretical conceptions that explain the economic growth and development of the Contestado region, located in the state of Santa Catarina, based on the dynamics of interregional and international exports. The study is grounded in a literature review on development theories and regional characteristics, as well as the use of secondary data to assess regional economic performance. The analysis is guided by the Staple Theory, formulated in the Canadian context, which proposes a model of economic growth led by the export of primary goods. This theory seeks to understand how regional endowments of natural resources generate external demand, influence export dependency, and trigger production linkages and technological changes. In the Contestado region, timber exploitation and animal protein production remain key economic pillars. However, challenges related to the unequal distribution of wealth and political power persist. It is concluded that interregional trade holds equivalent weight to international exports in the local economic dynamics: in 2018, 37% of Santa Catarina’s processed meat demand was destined for international markets, and 30% for other Brazilian states. In the wood, furniture, and paper sector, 39% of the demand came from other regions of Brazil. Keywords: economic development; production chains; interregional trade; primary export model; territorial integration.