Biodiesel and social inclusion: An analysis of institutional pressures between biodiesel plants and family farmers in southern Brazil

Water availability in rural areas is essential to production activities and quality of life. The aim of the current study is to evaluate the key role played by water resources in rural properties as a factor for farmers' permanence in the field in Southern Brazil. The research followed a qualitative and quantitative approach, which encompassed the application of semi-structured questionnaires to family farmers living in Marmeleiro and Fontana Freda communities, in the rural area of Jaguari County, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. Based on collected data, participants have shown knowledge about aspects such as water quality and availability, as well as about the preservation of this resource. Nevertheless, it was clear that water availability is a fundamental factor for farmers to remain in the field.

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Kaingang indigenous, family farmers and soy in southern Brazil: new old conflicts over land

Oxford Development Studies ◽

10.1080/13600818.2021.1956446 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-14

Author(s):

Daniele Barbosa ◽

Edmundo Oderich ◽

Angela Camana

Keyword(s):

Southern Brazil ◽

Family Farmers

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The Brazilian biodiesel program and family farmers: what is the social inclusion reality in the Brazilian savannah?

Pesquisa Agropecuária Tropical ◽

10.1590/s1983-40632010000400005 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 40 (4) ◽

pp. 430-438 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Marcus Vinicius Alves Finco ◽

Werner Doppler

Keyword(s):

Jatropha Curcas ◽

Social Inclusion ◽

Ricinus Communis ◽

Probit Model ◽

Biofuel Production ◽

Living Standard ◽

Production Program ◽

Family Farmers ◽

Oil Seed ◽

Brazilian Savannah

Biofuel production has been greatly discussed in Brazil. In 2004, some debates led the country to develop new policies and implement the National Biodiesel Use and Production Program (PNPB), with the intent to increase the share of renewable energy and foster rural development. In this context, the present study aims to assess the linkages between family farmers living standard and the adoption of oil seed activity in the Tocantins State, in a region of transition between the Cerrado (Brazilian savannah) and the Amazon rain forest. Ranges of socio-economic indicators were collected among smallholders who cultivate Jatropha curcas and Ricinus communis. A factor analysis based on living standard criteria and a non-linear probit model were applied to assess the inclusion of poor rural families in the biodiesel chain. Preliminary results point towards a positive relation between the family degree of deprivation and adoption of oil seed activity, for the Ricinus communis production, and a negative relation, for the Jatropha curcas production.

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Frequency of anti-Toxocara antibodies in broiler chickens in southern Brazil

Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária ◽

10.1590/s1984-296120180025 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 27 (2) ◽

pp. 141-145 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Adilson Cardoso de Oliveira ◽

Guita Rubinsky-Elefant ◽

Yslla Fernanda Fitz Balo Merigueti ◽

Aline da Silveira Batista ◽

Vamilton Alvares Santarém

Keyword(s):

Broiler Chickens ◽

Elisa Test ◽

Reactivity Index ◽

Larva Migrans ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Ascaridia Galli ◽

Southern Brazil ◽

Family Farmers ◽

High Prevalence ◽

Intensive System

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of anti-Toxocara antibodies in naturally infected broiler chickens (n = 189) from the state of Paraná, southern Brazil. The chickens were reared in a semi-intensive system by small family farmers (n = 7). An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to detect the presence of anti- Toxocara spp. IgY after serum adsorption with Ascaridia galli antigens. An overall seroprevalence of 67.7% (128/189; 95% CI = 61.1-74.4) was observed. The frequency of positive animals by farm ranged from 29.6% to 100%. The optical density and reactivity index values observed in ELISA test indicated the possible chronicity of infection of the evaluated chickens. Associations between the presence of antibodies and the area where the chickens were reared (p = 0.382) or the population density of dogs on the farm (p = 0.785) were not observed. This study shows a high prevalence of Toxocara spp. antibodies in broiler chickens reared in semi-intensive systems and provides evidence that chickens are a good indicator of environmental contamination by larva migrans agents. Further studies are necessary to assess the risk factors associated with poultry infection and the likelihood of toxocariasis transmission to humans via the ingestion of free-range chicken meat.

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