Agricultura natural e CSA: um estudo sobre as dimensões da sustentabilidade no interior de São Paulo

Abstract

Nature Farming (NF) was advocated by Mokichi Okada in Japan in 1935, who presented it as an agricultural system based on the Laws of Great Nature. The Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) movement, considered to be a short marketing chain, has its roots in Japan in the 1960s through the Teikei movement, and is recognized as an associative model for family farming that is practiced worldwide. The aim of this research was to evaluate and point out the benefits and contributions that exist in the relationships between the NF agricultural system and family farming in the dimensions of environmental, economic, health and social sustainability, in the CSAs established in the municipalities of Presidente Prudente and São José do Rio Preto - SP. The study is a qualitative, descriptive and exploratory study, which used structured and validated forms to interview farmers who farm according to the principles of NF and participate in CSAs. The theoretical framework deals with NF, sustainable lines of agricultural cultivation, spiritual (vital) energy, the CSA movement and public policy. The results showed that in the environmental dimension, farmers are aware of the importance of farming sustainably without polluting or devastating the environment and that sustainable agriculture is not harmful to public, ecological or environmental health and has proven to be resilient to climate change. In the economic dimension, farmers increased their income by 740% and 301.4% in the São José CSA and 168.4% in the Presidente Prudente CSA. The fixed monthly income is above the national average, which has justified the expansion of the cultivation area and (re)investment in: new varieties of seeds, an increase in the diversity of items cultivated, irrigation, tractors, equipment, the construction of a packing house and an artesian well. In the social dimension, the farmers' personal and professional needs were met, food insecurity was reduced, social capital was based on appreciation, farmers were valued, self-esteem increased, completely meeting Maslow's theory, resulting in self-fulfillment and happiness. In the health dimension, the high degree of independence of physical and emotional health was demonstrated, as they do not have physical limitations, indisposition, pain or disturbed mental health, which are excellent indicators in the face of the negative national reality in the health of many farmers. The results contribute to SDGs targets 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5; 3.9 and 8.3. The objectives were met and the research question that the NF system in conjunction with CSA provides income and quality of life for family farmers and improves aspects of environmental, economic, health and social sustainability was confirmed. As a final result, the work presents as an innovation the Multidimensions of NF, being an open system with a set of transdisciplinary relationships, having life as its center or starting point.