Samuel Frederico

Espaço geográfico, produção e movimento: uma reflexão sobre o conceito de circuito espacial produtivo

The aim of this article is to demonstrate the importance and the operational feasibility of the concepts of the productive spatial circuit and cooperation circles in space, in an historical moment when the spheres of production and exchange become more scattered geographically, making circulation a priority and a strategic acting field of Estates and companies. It seeks to achieve this objective through three steps: 1) elaboration of a theoretical debate based on authors that proposed and sought to develop those concepts; 2) proposition of a distinction between productive spatial circuit and productive chain; 3) a brief analysis of modern agricultural production in agricultural expansion areas in the Brazilian territory in the light of this theory.

The Political Economy of Territory and Agribusiness in Brazil

This chapter aims to demonstrate how the notion of political economy of territory, proposed by Milton Santos, aids in the interpretation of spatial dynamics of Brazilian agribusiness at the beginning of the 21st century. Among the many territorial expressions of agricultural dynamics, this article analyzes the dialectical relationship between the ‘centrifugal forces’, exemplified by the spatial dispersion of modern agriculture, and the ‘centripetal forces’, represented by the centralization of production control especially in the metropolis of Sao Paulo. Since the Brazilian exchange crisis of 1999, state policy to stimulate export of agricultural products, linked with the interests of the main representatives of agribusiness (large producers and corporations), has resulted in the accelerating expansion of the agricultural frontier, especially with soybean production in savanna areas. However, concomitant with the territorial dispersion of production, the centralization of capital and the increasing influence of finance and information for the development of modern agriculture have reinforced the command function of the main national metropolis.

REGIÕES DO AGRONEGÓCIO, NOVAS RELAÇÕES CAMPO-CIDADE E REESTRUTURAÇÃO URBANA

No atual periodo historico, caracterizado pela forte internacionalizacao do modo de producao capitalista, importantes transformacoes de ordem tecnica, politica e economica tem promovido intensa reestruturacao produtiva da agropecuaria. Esta tem se caracterizado, entre outros, pela producao de commodities, de combustiveis renovaveis, de frutas tropicais e de materias-primas para varios ramos agroindustriais, com seu funcionamento regulado cada vez mais pela economia de mercado, em razao de demandas urbanas e industriais, em grande parte voltadas a exportacao. Outra importante caracteristica do setor e a apropriacao de tais processos por parte de corporacoes multinacionais, associadas em especial ao capital industrial e fnanceiro, que compoem parte das novas redes de governanca global que determinam como e o que se produz no campo. O presente artigo e fruto das ideias discutidas no Grupo de Trabalho de mesmo nome ocorrido durante o XI Encontro da Associacao Nacional de Pos-Graduacao e Pesquisa em Geografa (ANPEGE), ocorrido em 2015. O principal objetivo e contribuir para aprofundar os debates acerca das dinâmicas territoriais do agronegocio brasileiro e argentino, particularmente a especializacao produtiva do territorio; as novas relacoes campo-cidade e a logistica agroindustrial; a reestruturacao urbana e a ampliacao das desigualdades socioespaciais.

Globalização e cafés especiais: a produção do comércio justo da Associação dos Agricultores Familiares do Córrego D’Antas - ASSODANTAS, Poços de Caldas (MG)

Since the last major international coffee crisis, in the 1990s, the production of specialty coffee has been considered one of the main market alternatives for small farmers. However, the increase in world consumption of this type of coffee has also attracted the attention of major exporters, roasters and retailers, with consequent standardization of production. On the one hand, the entry in such markets has important benefits for small producers, particularly in countries recognized by the production of lower quality coffee and insufficient collective organization of farmers, as the Brazilian case, on the other hand, external regulation and the role of large companies have extended the differences of power and distribution of value along the productive spacial circuit. Therefore, this article aim to examine the paradox resulting from the insertion of small producers of the Associacao dos Agricultores familiares do Corrego D’Antas, Pocos de Caldas (MG), in the Fairtrade market. For this, starts the debate on globalization and standardization of specialty coffee production. Then deepens the analysis in Fairtrade and finally, it highlight the benefits and challenges faced by Assodantas.