Family Farmers’ Cooperative from Ibiúna, São Paulo State, Brazil: An Example of Social Capital as a Driver for Ecological Sustainability Change

Abstract

It has been argued over the years that sustainable agriculture must encompass the “triple bottom line” framework towards a more sustainable bioeconomy. However, much emphasis has been placed on the ecological component (“planet”) of the trifecta, neglecting the economical (“profit”) and social (“people”) dimensions, especially in Sao Paulo state, Brazil. This transition from traditional agriculture to a more sustainable system has excluded family and small farmers, which make up more than 50% of total farmers in Brazil. Social capital literature brings us some insights about how to enable these excluded farmers to more environmentally friendly agricultural practices. Empowerment and participation of local farmers have been proven themselves to be powerful strategies for building the social and economical dimensions of family farmers, equipping them to engage in more ecologically sustainable agricultural practices. This paper shows a practical initiative of a group of family farmers in Ibiuna, Sao Paulo, Brazil, that were empowered and became successful in their activities toward a more sustainable agriculture path, and, ultimately, leading to a more sustainable bioeconomy future in their region.