Clipping of news on Brazilian Culture, Law and Citizenship
28/11/2013
This article was translated by an automatic translation system, and was therefore not reviewed by people.
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In Ubatuba , northern coast of São Paulo , the creation of a network of caiçara agriculture , based on volunteer work , encourages the direct sale of local agro-ecological and artisanal production. The project aims at fostering consumer awareness and purchase and sale of production from the community .
* Isabel Viegas , a member of Agroecology Network Caiçara account as the Network was born and how work is evolving : The initial idea was simple : consume products without pesticides , healthier . The first discussions took place in informal wheels of which were producers and consumers who already had an idea of the agricultural production of Ubatuba . Among consumers , some work for public institutions to promote agriculture and therefore already had contact with producers and a sense of the availability of agro-ecological products and the difficulties of inserting them in conventional retail.
Concerned family consumption , each individual was turning to buy healthier products directly from producers and the conversation took on extending these direct purchases to other consumers with the same concerns . Although it was limited to a group of friends , more people would have access to these products , more farmers could benefit this market , offering a greater variety of products and , if they could do it together , many hours of travel would be spared , given the scale Ubatuba.Integrantes of the Agroecology Network Caicara Ubatuba , SP.Integrantes of Agroecology Network Caicara Ubatuba , SP .
Some meetings were held , attended the first farmers and other stakeholders related to public institutions , civil society and restaurants . All tired of unproductive meetings and willing to make something happen agreed to assemble a simple structure , with minimal resources , supported by Rotary volunteer work , so it was quickly implemented . Without many rules , the problems would be solved once they arrived .
After three or four meetings , the Caiçara Agroecology Network became active . Some already had practical experience with collective consumption : through academic studies on the subject , with direct purchase and sale, with shopping and activities in the type organizations in other cities . Gathering information , experience , and courage put the guy Caicara Agroecológica network to function . The first delivery took place on June 5, 2013 .
how it works
Producers are a list of products that will be available next week , consumers receive by email and choose the products they wish to purchase . Wednesdays producers and consumers meet to delivery and payment products . All steps are performed with the support of volunteers .
The scheme provides for direct sales of local agro-ecological and artisanal production, which allows the establishment of a more fair price for producers and consumers . Lower transportation costs , reduced storage and intermediaries for distributing enable producers receive a little more for their product - as an incentive to agroecological production - without consumers to pay more for it .
Reduced use of pesticides
Many farmers are in Ubatuba agroecological transition , ie , do not use pesticides or synthetic fertilizers , but are not certified as organic . The expansion of the market for these products as well as being an encouragement to those who already produces this way , it is also an incentive for other producers transition to more sustainable production. Reduced use of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers is one of the goals of this project due to its impacts on the health of farmers , consumers and the environment .
In addition to the weekly deliveries, Caicara Agroecology Network has supported and organized many events with their partners. Highlight for Mutirao Household Garden and producers of the collective donations to welfare agency .
Although the network has no profit and is supported on all volunteer work , its creators have much expectation for it to have long life . Purchases and sales indicate whether this structure has a reason to continue to exist , so it depends a lot on regular consumption .
The simple structure without profits and few resources depends on the sharing of work , so that each can devote . The direct involvement of producers and consumers is the best way to know the process and intentions . The Caicara Agroecology Network is a collective construction , in which all are equally important and can contribute .
* Isabel Viegas is Agronomist , member of Agroecology Network Caiçara and one of the coordinators of the project .
Source : Modern Consumer
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This article was translated by an automatic translation system, and was therefore not reviewed by people.