(In)segurança alimentar e agricultura familiar: políticas públicas como estratégia de superação da fome

32 milhões de brasileiros sofriam com a fome na década de 1990. Para dirimir este problema a implantação de políticas públicas de fomento à agricultura familiar no País foi uma das ações mais eficazes. Desde 2015, os recursos destinados a tais políticas reduziram drasticamente, gerando descontinuidade no fornecimento de alimentos a entidades e usuárias(os) dos programas, perdas na renda de agricultoras(es) e insegurança alimentar, situações agravadas com a pandemia de Covid-19. Partindo dos conceitos de segurança alimentar, agricultura familiar e políticas públicas, este artigo objetiva compreender os rebatimentos do desinvestimento das políticas públicas e da pandemia no cotidiano de agricultoras(es) familiares de Barbalha-CE. Prosseguiu-se com o exame de documentos públicos, entrevistas, observações e conversas no cotidiano com agricultoras(es), cujos dados foram compreendidos a partir da análise de práticas discursivas. Os resultados assinalam dificuldades das(os) trabalhadoras(es) em acessar serviços públicos, produzir, comercializar e garantir a segurança alimentar de suas famílias.Alternate :32 million Brazilians suffered from hunger in the 1990s. To solve this problem, the implementation of public policies to promote family farming in the country was one of the most effective actions. Since 2015, the resources allocated to such policies have drastically reduced, generating discontinuity in the supply of food to entities and users of the programs, losses in the income of farmers and food insecurity, situations aggravated by the Covid-19 pandemic. Based on the concepts of food security, family farming and public policies, this article aims to understand the repercussions of the divestment of public policies and the pandemic in the daily lives of family farmers in Barbalha-CE. We continued with the examination of public documents, interviews, observations and daily conversations with female farmers, whose data were understood from the analysis of discursive practices. The results point out the difficulties of the workers in accessing public services, producing, marketing and guaranteeing the food security of their families.

Fair in the Palm of Your Hand: a digital platform for the direct sale of family farming products. (Special Issue: Saberes agroecologicos e sistemas alimentares na America Latina e Caribe.)

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, commercial relations have undergone many changes. The advancement of digital technologies that allow instantaneous and real-time communication regardless of geographical distance have changed several daily activities, among them, the way of buying and selling. In the case of agriculture, the direct sale of agricultural products to final consumers, through social networks, emerges as a new form of rural business. However, the encounter between interested parties occurs, most of the time, informally, and it is up to producers and consumers to "meet" in order to sell and buy. In this context, the Fair in the Palm of Your Hand project aims to act as an agent between these two ends so that the encounter is facilitated. To this end, a methodology for Technical Assistance and Rural Extension (ATER) was developed with the aim of creating a digital platform (application and website) that would allow these transactions to be carried out more quickly and credibly. The research area includes locations in the state of Espirito Santo (Brazil) that already have producers and consumers capable of meeting this new market dynamic.

Use of e-commerce in the commercialization of family farming products: a systematic literature review

Family farming is an important food supplier, but it faces difficulties in commercialize its production. Alternative forms of commercialization of agricultural products have been emerging, and an inclination towards the use of e-commerce is perceived, which has also helped in the disclosure of its products. The objective of this study was to present the state of the art in research that relates family farming to the use of e-commerce and its disclosure strategies in recent years, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. The technical procedure used was a systematic literature review, following the Methodi Ordinatio protocol. The results showed that e-commerce has helped family farmers in the commercialization and disclosure of their products, bringing economic and social benefits. Additionally, gaps in future research on the subject were pointed out.

Social-ecological systems and social innovations regarding fruits and vegetables supply chains – case study of the Brazilian social enterprise Sumá

Approximately 70% of the food consumed in Brazil comes from family farming, mainly composed of small farmers. Small farmers are especially active in the fruits and vegetables (FV) chains in Brazil and were severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, contributing to the degradation in the country's food security. This paper explores how social innovation in the FV sector can contribute to social-ecological systems resilience and supply chain resilience, using as the main theoretical background the adaptive cycle framework. The article was based on documentary analysis and semi-structured interviews, exploring the FV sector issues at a macro-level and then focusing on the case study of Sumá, a social enterprise from Southern Brazil. Sumá develops small farmers and connects them to regular food purchasers in small towns, promoting sustainable food systems. This case study stands out as an example of how to identify, evaluate and take advantage of market opportunities and public sector gaps in order to generate economic growth and multidimensional social impact.

School food at home: Brazil's national school food programme (PNAE) during the COVID-19 pandemic

School closures during the COVID-19 pandemic have hindered students' food access, particularly low-income students who rely on schools for their primary daily meals. School food programmes have adapted to pandemic conditions by providing school food at home (SF@H). We conceptually explore the changing geographies of school food during the pandemic by examining adaptations by Brazil's national school food programme (PNAE) and then comparing it to regular school food provision. Our research is informed by 43 interviews with public officials and civil society representatives from all regions of Brazil, ranging from high-level technocrats to frontline responders engaged with school food. Rapid response through national school food policy allowed schools to provide food at home as a pandemic relief effort by creating novel alternative food geographies that keep schools at the heart of agri-food systems. SF@H provide local family farmers with an alternative commercialisation channel to those compromised because of social distancing measures. SF@H also provided students – and, for the first time, their families – with access to food during home-based learning. While this has been important, we find that even when the state provides SF@H as a pandemic relief measure, low-income families are subject to additional burdens that accentuate the inequalities previously ameliorated at schools.Alternate :ResumenEl cierre de escuelas durante la pandemia del COVID-19 ha dificultado el acceso a los alimentos de los estudiantes, en particular de los estudiantes de bajos ingresos que dependen de las escuelas para sus comidas diarias principales. Los programas de alimentación escolar se han adaptado a las condiciones de la pandemia al proporcionar alimentación escolar en el hogar (SF@H). Exploramos conceptualmente las geografías cambiantes de la alimentación escolar durante la pandemia al examinar las adaptaciones del Programa Nacional de Alimentación Escolar (PNAE) de Brasil y luego compararlo con la provisión regular de alimentos escolar. Nuestra investigación se basa en 43 entrevistas con funcionarios públicos y representantes de la sociedad civil de todas las regiones de Brasil, desde tecnócratas de alto nivel hasta personal de primera línea comprometidos con la alimentación escolar. La respuesta rápida a través de la política nacional de alimentación escolar permitió a las escuelas proporcionar alimentos en el hogar como un esfuerzo de alivio a la pandemia mediante la creación de novedosas geografías alimentarias alternativas que mantuvieron a las escuelas en el corazón de los sistemas agroalimentarios. SF@H brinda a los agricultores locales familiares un canal de comercialización alternativo para aquellos comprometidos debido a las medidas de distanciamiento social. SF@H también proporcionó a los estudiantes y, por primera vez, a sus familias, acceso a alimentos durante el aprendizaje en el hogar. Si bien esto ha sido importante, encontramos que incluso cuando el Estado proporciona SF@H como medida de alivio a la pandemia, las familias de bajos ingresos están sujetas a cargas adicionales que acentúan las desigualdades que antes se mejoraban en las escuelas.

Adversities imposed by COVID-19 on family farming: case studies in the municipalities of Santa Maria and Sao Joao do Polesine/RS

Family farming is present in 70% of Brazilian rural properties. However, despite the representativeness, historically this category is not a priority in the State's actions, assuring to grow and establish itself on the margins of business agriculture, and it is only because of the accentuated rural exodus effect that public policies for maintaining the population in the field are created, such as the National Rural Financing Program, PRONAF. Furthermore, a process of questioning about the health effects caused by the intensive use of pesticides in food production begins, and organic/healthy family agriculture gets visibility and space in the market, especially in open markets. Thus, the present paper ought to check which are the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic in this sector since the commercialization units started to operate in reduced periods and with less public. The paper aims to present the main adversities generated by the Pandemic for family farming, in the municipalities of Santa Maria/RS and Sao Joao do Polesine/RS, as well as the strategies used by the farmers. Therefore, three case studies are presented, which were studied, methodologically, from fieldwork in loco and online questionnaires. The found results are positive and demonstrate that despite the difficulties, farmers adapt themselves inserting new marketing strategies and access to customers.

Effect of Farmers' Awareness of Climate Change on Their Willingness to Adopt Low-Carbon Production: Based on the TAM-SOR Model.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the intricate relationships between human health and the social-ecological system in an era of climate and global change. Widespread COVID-19 adversely affected farmers' employment, production practices, and livelihood resilience. At the same time, climate change is a key issue limiting agricultural production worldwide. Emissions of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, are a major factor leading to global climate change. Greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural production are receiving increasing attention. Therefore, it is particularly important to develop low-carbon agriculture. Based on data from 920 family farms in Jiangsu province and Shaanxi province, this study constructs a structural equation model and empirically tests the relationship between the variables using the bootstrap method. The results show that: (1) climate change awareness did not directly stimulate farmers' willingness to pursue low-carbon production; (2) climate change awareness has an impact on low-carbon production willingness through perceived ease of use and consequence awareness; and (3) anti-risk ability can effectively moderate the impact of climate change awareness on low-carbon production behavior in agriculture. The theoretical model framework proposed in this study provides a reference for research in the field of low-carbon agriculture and also provides some insights and suggestions for environmentalists and governments. In addition, policymakers should effectively raise the sense of responsibility of farmers to address climate change and promote low-carbon agricultural production to achieve healthy and sustainable agricultural development.

Food security and PNAE: what changed during the pandemic?

The topic of food insecurity returned to the debate in society during the Covid-19 pandemic. The PNAE is an important instrument to promote rights related to food, in addition to contributing to the strengthening of the local economy and generating income for family farmers. This article aims to carry out a qualitative analysis on the execution of the PNAE in the Municipality of Sao Joao d'Alianca -GO, especially on its contribution to local family farming and the impacts and alternatives adopted during the period of suspension of school activities during the period of Covid-19 pandemic. To achieve the intended objective, the case study was carried out through a qualitative approach, the techniques of literature review, semi-structured interview and observation were also employed. Thus, guaranteeing the triangulation of the data obtained and greater confidence in the research. In the period prior to the pandemic, the municipality exceeded the minimum amount of acquisitions from family farming (30%), especially due to the articulation between local public agents and the local farmers' cooperative. During the pandemic period, this articulation continued with the distribution of food kits to families in situations of food insecurity, overcoming challenges and opening new possibilities.

COVID-19 Responses and Pivots in the Piedmont Region of North Carolina: A Call for Policy Reforms for Small Farmers

While the United States prioritizes agricultural legislation and assistance, policies passed both federally and locally are not always developed with small-scale farms in mind. This inequity became apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic. By identifying how aid money was distributed during times of crisis, we were able to see how small-scale farms are supported through words rather than action. We examine small-scale farmers prior to and during the pandemic in the North Carolina Piedmont region. We focus on the role small-scale farmers and farmers markets play in a local agro-food system through a political economy perspective and highlight some of the challenges, barriers, and responses during the pandemic, including access to farm aid. In addition, we identify strategies for how small-scale farmers persisted during unprecedented times, especially during COVID-19.

Pandemia Covid-19: um estudo de caso da Feira Agroecológica do PDS Porto Seguro, Marabá (PA)

Para reduzir ao máximo o avanço do novo coronavirus foram implementadas açöes que visaram o achatamento da curva de contágio, como principal medida o distanciamento social com suspensāo parcial ou total das atividades comerciais, incluindo o trabalho nas feiras livres. Esse trabalho teve como objetivo identificar os efeitos da pandemia na produçao e na comercializaçao de agricultores familiares, feirantes do Projeto de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Porto Seguro, em Marabá (PA). O estudo foi realizado por meio de pesquisa de campo e aplicaçao de um questionário, com questoes sobre o perfil do agricultor, características das atividades desempenhadas e os impactos da pandemia. Em meio as abordagens qualitativas e quantitativas, os dados foram tabulados e interpretados por meio de análise descritiva. Os resultados indicaram aumento na produçao dos agricultores e mudanças nas práticas sanitárias adotadas. Apesar disso, a comercializaçao sofreu diminuiçao e os preços se mantiveram estáveis ao comprometer diretamente a renda familiar. Logo, o auxilio emergencial foi fundamental a complementaçao da renda. Para se informar sobre a pandemia, os agricultores utilizaram principalmente televisáo, rádio e o WhatsApp, visto algumas dificuldades de acesso a Internet. Os principais pontos negativos da pandemia, conforme a visāo dos entrevistados, foram o fechamento do comercio, dificuldades nas vendas, prejuizos a saúde e perda de produtos. Já em relaçao ao ponto positivo, alguns relataram a criaçao da feira on-line, que se tornou uma soluçao, para conseguirem realizar a comercializaçao de seus produtos e entregar ao cliente.Alternate :Several actions were deployed to contain the propagation of the new coronavirus and the flattening of the contagion curve, or rather, social distancing with partial or total suspension of commercial activities, including agricultural fairs. Current research identifies the effects of the pandemic on production and commercialization by family farmers in the Project of Sustainable Development Porto Seguro in Marabá PA Brazil. Study comprised field research and the application of a questionnaire with questions on the farmer's profile, characteristics of activities and impacts by the pandemic. Data from qualitative and quantitative approaches were tabulated and interpreted by descriptive analysis. Results showed a production increase by farmers and changes in sanitary practices. However, trade decreased and prices remained stable, impairing family income. Emergency help was important for income supplementation. Farmers had at their disposal TV, radio and WhatsApp for information, even though access to the Internet was not without difficulties. According to the interviewees, the pandemic's main negative items were lockouts, difficulties in selling, impairment of health and loss of products. Positive items comprised on-line agricultural fair, a new solution for reaching clients.

GIG-ECONOMY AS A SAFETY GRADIENT FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MINING INDUSTRY

Мета. Визначити Ñ€/вень каузальности шновацшних процес/в розширення пг-економшного простору й социально!, економ/чно! та еколог/чно! захищеносл видобувно! галузi Украши в умовах зм/ни системи технолопчних уклад/в, спричинено! появою ново!' безпеково! структурно-функцiональноî Post-Covid компоненти. Запропонувати типовi сценарп сталого розвитку вттчизняно! г/гекономiки економiки в контекстi вдосконалення безпеково'! поллики у видобувнш галузi. Методика. Для досягнення зазначено! мети використане сценарне планування, Дельфi, SMART, SWOT-аналiз i математичн/ методи - економетричний i град/ентний аналiз досл/дження, що уможливлюють визначення скалярних величин i напрям/в екстремальних iнновацiйних змiн функций гiг-економiки в контекстi сталого розвитку видобувно! промисловостi Укра!ни. Розрахунки проводилися на основi програмного пакету SPSS Data Analysis Software. Результата. У робот/ системно проанал/зоваш ключовi безпековi показники науково-технiчного прогресу в контекстi сталого розвитку видобувно! галузi та встановлено взаемно однозначний зв>язок iснуючих соц/альноеконом/чних економ/чних явищ та гiг-економiчних процесiв, що в останш роки асиметрично актив/зувалися п!д впливом Post-Covid наслiдкiв. Окреслена безпекова специфiка тактичного й стратегшного управлiння гiг-економiкою. Наукова новизна. Запропоновано методичний шдхщ щодо юльюсного та як/сного визначення безпекових градiентiв розвитку видобувного господарства, що уможливлюе врахування трансформацшних Post-Covid насладив, а також диверсифiкуе тактичне та стратепчне управлiння. Зокрема, пропонуеться використати шновацшну цифрову платформу CENSIE - «Central European Network for Sustainable and Innovative Economy». Практична значимадть. Використання запропонованого подходу сприятиме падвищенню ефективносл стратег/чного й тактичного управл/ння кадровою политикою у видобувнш галуз/ в умовах формування пг-економ/ки, а також синхрон/зуе часов/ та просторов/ параметри, падвищуючи адресшсть управл/нських Ñ€/шень. Запропоновано впровадження специально!' дистанцшно! платформи «ВидобуванняФраданс» для надання фраданс-послуг домогосподарствам, Ñ„/зичним особам-падприемцям i шшим виробникам, яй будуть захищеш технологию Blockchain на баз/ юнуючо! прогами «ProZorro». При цьому Blockchain-технологи дозволять п/двищити роль профспшок, Ð¹ зможуть об'еднати пг-пращвнийв у едину систему та контролювати умови пращ, взявши на себе певн/ соцшльш зобов'язання.Alternate :Purpose. To evaluate causality of expanding the gig-economic space and the socioeconomic and ecological security of Ukraines mining industry in the context of the changing technological structures caused by the emergence of a new security structural and functional post Covid-19 component. To propose typical scenarios for sustainable development of the gig-economy in the context of improving security policy of Ukraines mining industry. Methodology. To achieve this goal, a scenario planning, Delphi, SMART, SWOT analysis and mathematical research methods - econometric and gradient analysis, were used to determine the scalar values and directions of extreme innovative changes in the gig economy in the context of sustainable development of mining industry in Ukraine. The calculations were carried out using the SPSS Data Analysis Software. Findings. The work systematically analyzes key safety indicators of scientific-technological progress for sustainable development of the mining industry and establishes a one-to-one relationship between existing socio-economic phenomena and gigeconomic processes, which in recent years have been asymmetrically activated under the influence of the post Covid-2019. The security specifics of tactical and strategic management of the gig-economy are outlined. Originality. A methodological approach to the quantitative and qualitative determination of the safety gradients of the development of the mining industry enables the consideration of transformational Post-Covid consequences, as well as diversifies tactical and strategic management. In particular, it isproposed to use an innovative digital platform CENSIE - Central European Network for Sustainable and Innovative Economy. Practical value. A proposed approach would facilitate to improve the efficiency of strategic and tactical management of personnel policy of the mining industry in the context of the formation of a gig-economy, as well as synchronize time and space parameters, increasing the targeting of management decisions. It was proposed to introduce a special remote platform MiningFreelance to provide freelance services to households, family farms and other manufacturers which will be protected by the Blockchain registry based on existing ProZorro programs. At the same time, Blockchain technologies will increase the role of trade unions, which will be able to unite gig workers into a single system and control working conditions, taking on certain social obligations.

Development of Family Entrepreneurship in the Conditions of Influence of Covid-19

The article is devoted to the topical problem of family business development in the conditions of COVID-19 influence. The basis of the research is to form a concept of active policy of entrepreneurial potential in rural areas, which includes measures for the development of farms and family farms, in particular through the transformational mechanism of formalization of private farms into a market environment. The situation regarding the impact of quarantine measures in the conditions of COVID-19 and their consequences and interaction in the process of development of farms and family farms in rural areas is analyzed. On the basis of generalization in the development of mechanisms to ensure the efficiency of the agricultural sector of the economy it is necessary to take into account the features and vulnerabilities of the organizational and legal form of management. It was found that the most vulnerable to the introduction of quarantine restrictions are small and medium-sized farms, mostly those that operate in the field of vegetable growing, including the production of early vegetables and berries. The main measures to counteract the impact of restrictive measures under COVID-19 were revealed, which allowed to assess the prospects for the development of farms, including family farms, as well as to make predictive calculations of the impact of the proposed measures on their formation and development. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

Tecnologias em tempos de (pós) pandemia: um ensaio focalizado ao mundo rural brasileiro

No contexto atual, no qual vivencia-se a propagação do novo coronavírus (Covid-19), a tecnologia ganha roupagem diferenciada, mormente, interpretada como produto ou combinação inusitada de processos, baseada nos pressupostos da ciência, com vistas à superação dos desafios que foram criados ou avultados à vida humana. No espaço rural brasileiro, se por um lado, a incidência viral em nível global afeta negativamente distintos sujeitos do campo, por outro lado, ela destaca a importância, para toda a sociedade, de uma categoria social produtora de alimentos, em geral, mais saudáveis, mas, sobretudo tecnologicamente inovadora. À luz dessa problemática, este ensaio se propõe a refletir sobre as formas de concepção tecnológica desenvolvidas pela agricultura familiar que podem vir a configurar estratégias de desenvolvimento rural mais sustentáveis e contextualizadas em tempos de (pós) pandemia. Para tanto, é metodologicamente pautado em pesquisas bibliográficas e documentais realizadas no segundo semestre de 2020 e tem como cerne teórico as perspectivas de sistemas tecnológicos e de construção social da tecnologia. Como principais alcances, contribui na composição de uma agenda de pesquisa e mobilização sociotécnica voltada a iniciativas contra-hegemônicas de desenvolvimento rural a serem constituídas no contexto de (pós) pandemia.Alternate :En el contexto actual de pandemia, la tecnología adquiere una forma diferente, interpretada principalmente como un producto o una combinación inusual de procesos y basada en los supuestos de la ciencia con miras a superar los desafíos que fueron creados o añadidos a la vida humana. En el espacio rural brasileño, más allá de la incidencia negativa del coronavirus a nivel global, resalta la importancia que tiene el campo en su categoría social como productor de alimentos más saludables, en general, y sobre todo tecnológicamente innovadores. Ante esta problemática, este artículo se propone reflexionar sobre las formas de concepción tecnológica desarrolladas por la agricultura familiar que pueden llegar a configurar estrategias de desarrollo rural más sustentables y contextualizadas en tiempos pospandémicos. Para ello se basa metodológicamente en una investigación bibliográfica y documental realizada durante el segundo semestre de 2020, tiene como eje teórico las perspectivas de los sistemas tecnológicos y la construcción social de la tecnología, y contribuye a la generación de una agenda de investigación y movilización sociotécnica orientada a iniciativas contrahegemónicas de desarrollo rural.Alternate :In the present context, dominated by the Covid-19 pandemic, technology gains a new shape as a product or an unusual combination of processes oriented to overcome the challenges that were created or added to human life. In the Brazilian rural space, notwithstanding the global negative incidence of the pandemic, the importance of a social category that produces healthier and technologically innovative food for everyone is highlighted. This article proposes to reflect on the forms of technological conception developed by family farming that may come to configure more sustainable and contextualized strategies for rural development in these (post) pandemic times. The article is methodologically based on a bibliographic research carried out during the second half of 2020 and its theoretical core resides in the concepts of technological systems and the social construction of technology. It contributes to a research and socio-technical mobilization agenda aimed at constituting counter-hegemonic rural development initiatives.

Food security and family farming in Mexico

Food security and hunger, linked to rural poverty, in Mexico are among the greatest challenges since they include large sectors of the population, which are exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective of this essay is to analyze the food security of family farming and rural poverty in Mexico. A systemic analytical framework was developed, which considered the food crisis, food security, agriculture and the agricultural development modality followed by Mexico. Family farming was addressed through the stratification developed by SAGARPA and FAO, as well as the conditions of marginalization and income poverty. According to the analysis, with the neoliberal model, Mexico specialized agricultural production towards export crops and agricultural growth, production that increased in recent years, achieving a surplus agri-food balance, which means food availability, but not food security for people in extremely rural poverty. It is concluded that there is a close relationship between rural poverty and food security, the latter linked to social inequality in income distribution, among other inequalities, which generates a circle of low income-poverty-food insecurity that occurs and reproduces socially in family farming. The strengthening of assets, agri-food production and income in family farming are fundamental for overcoming rural poverty and building a more equitable society.

Public policies to fight hunger in Brazil: the role of family agriculture

The last two Brazilian governments were responsible for the general dismantling of public policies in favor of family farming, such actions reflected directly in the Food and Nutrition Security and Insecurity indices since 2016, progressively increased and worsened in 2020 with the pandemic of COVID-19 . Thus, this article aims to interpret the historical and political threshold between the years 2002 to 2020 and the phenomenon of hunger in this period. The conduct of the research was guided by the Literature Review on national and international sites, with a qualitative and quantitative bias of a descriptive character. The study showed that there was an increase in the levels of Food and Nutritional Insecurity at its various levels: mild, moderate and severe, highlighting the North and Northeast regions of the country as most vulnerable to hunger and essentially the populations residing in rural areas. We are facing a health and food crisis in Brazil and in the world and we therefore have an opportunity to seriously reflect on the way we produce process and distribute food.

Food supply and COVID -19 an analysis of the farmers markets in Vale do rio pardo-rs

Considering the relevance of actions to strengthen family farming as a strategy to overcome hunger, poverty and food insecurity, this article aims to understand how COVID-19 pandemic is impacting family farm markets at Vale do Rio Pardo region, indicating the challenges experienced in maintaining trade and the consequences for food supply. The research occurred between April and August of 2020, based on an exploratory methodology, with qualitative and quantitative data collection. The results indicate that the majority of local farmers markets remain active thanks to the mobilization of farmers to implement security measures both at personal level and at trading channel. There was also a positive performance by local governmental organizations vis-a-vis farming families, with no records of infection among people involved in the studied cases. The characterization and socio-spatial distribution of farmers markets in the region are an unprecedented and important result in setting an agenda for future research.

The food as a commodity and the hunger in Brazil

Brazil has favored agribusiness instead of family farming. In the agribusiness production networks, food is not treated as a social right, but rather as a commodity whose primary purpose is to obtain profit. This paper aims to contribute to the debate on the intrinsic relationship between agribusiness expansion and hunger in Brazil. Our starting point are some of the pillars that support food as a commodity, like ultra-processed food and economic concentration in its production and distribution. The methodology was structured according to the basic principles of qualitative research for the construction of a critical analysis. The researchers conclude that in addition to the increase in production and productivity of agribusiness, the researchers have the growth of people without access to food, showing that these processes are sides of the same coin. The researchers also note that although hunger increased exponentially during the COVID-19 pandemic, agri-food businesses and supermarkets were among the most profitable during this period.

Book review

[...]the answer given by Zhou to the very question he raised in this book about what matters to food security is the political institution that a country adopts. [...]the message conveyed by Zhou's book is clear: if a country's food security is low, the causes must be found in the settings of the country's institutions (as summarised in Chapter 14). Written as a textbook, it comes with some useful teaching-learning features such as “review questions” (to reinforce key take-away messages from a chapter), “discussion questions” (to challenge students to apply what they have learnt to the real-world issues) and “further reading and resources” (to help the more serious reader to further their insight into this important topic of food security).

‘Farmers Don’t Retire’: Re-Evaluating How We Engage with and Understand the ‘Older’ Farmer’s Perspective

Globally, policy aimed at stimulating generational renewal in agriculture is reported to pay meagre regard to the mental health and wellbeing of an older farmer, overlooking their identity and social circles, which are inextricably intertwined with their occupation and farm. This paper, in probing this contentious issue, casts its net across what could be deemed as disparate literatures, namely connected to transferring the family farm and social gerontology, in order to determine what steps could be taken to reassure older farmers that their sense of purpose and legitimate social connectedness within the farming community will not be jeopardised upon handing over the farm business to the next generation. A number of practical ‘farmer-sensitive’ actions that can be taken at both policy and societal level are subsequently set forth in this paper to help ease the fear and anxiety associated with ‘stepping aside’ and retirement from farming amongst older farmers. A particular focus is placed on social and emotional wellbeing benefits of being a member of a social group reflecting farmer-relevant values and aspirations in later life. The potential of the multi-actor EIP-AGRI initiative and the long-established livestock mart sector in facilitating the successful rollout of a social organisation designed to fit the specific needs and interests of the older generation of the farming community is then outlined. In performing this, the paper begins a broad international conversation on the potential of transforming farming into an age-friendly sector of society, in line with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) age-friendly environments concept.

Bulgarian agriculture in the focus of representative statistical surveys

The aim of the article is to highlight certain trends in Bulgarian agriculture. The article is based on representative empirical information from the Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) and Farm structure survey (FSS). Changes in land use are registered with a significant impact on the development of land relations in our country. The results reveal processes of different nature and express the effect of the dominance of the Community agricultural policy on the economic conjuncture for the development of agriculture in our country. The dichotomy in the used agricultural area is an expression of increased competitiveness, which is inherent mainly in the production of extensive crops, with the presence of significant features for monoculture agriculture. At the same time, systemic problems in the intensive crops stand out, for the production of which Bulgaria possesses monopoly natural-climatic conditions. These results highlight the role of land relations and reveal/bring out potential opportunities for increasing the importance of agriculture in improving public relations and the socio-economic environment not only in the sector but also in the country as a whole. The Covid-19 challenge creates the preconditions for re-evaluating some existing stereotypes. The results of surveys over the last ten years reveal processes of consolidation of the utilized agricultural area and its concentration in a small number of large agricultural holdings. Extensive crop production is increasing. Intensive production, vegetables, fruit and livestock fall into the group of "vulnerable sectors". The number of small actors is decreasing;the processes of medium-sized ones are unstable. This creates difficulties in establishing sustainable family farms and is a potential risk of depopulation in some rural areas in Bulgaria. The registered processes are in dissonance with the goal setting of the Common agricultural policy (CAP). FADN 2020 reaffirms this trend, as the utilized agricultural area in Bulgarian agriculture continues to grow and monoculture production remains sustainable. The crisis with COVID-19 has revealed a number of problems in the supply of agricultural goods, which is an occasion to rethink the role of national policy to provide consumers with products of local origin and frames the need for cognition in the analysis of complex contemporary socio-economic processes.