(In)Sustainability of the Territory of Chapada Do Apodi-Rn (Brazil): The Expansion of Agribusiness versus the Impacts of Traditional Farmers and Local Rural Communities

Jorge Luís de Oliveira Pinto Filho, Alana Ticiane Alves do Rêgo, Anderson Rodrigo da Silva Lunes and Lucio Cunha
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Jorge Luís de Oliveira Pinto Filho: Centro de Estudos de Geografia e Ordenamento do Território—CEGOT, Universidade de Coimbra—UC, 3004-531 Coimbra, Portugal
Alana Ticiane Alves do Rêgo: Departamento de Engenharias e Tecnologia, Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido—UFERSA, Pau dos Ferros 59.900-000, RN, Brazil
Anderson Rodrigo da Silva Lunes: Departamento de Engenharias e Tecnologia, Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido—UFERSA, Pau dos Ferros 59.900-000, RN, Brazil
Lucio Cunha: Centro de Estudos de Geografia e Ordenamento do Território—CEGOT, Universidade de Coimbra—UC, 3004-531 Coimbra, Portugal

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 21, 1-19

Abstract: The objective of this study is to investigate the conditions of family agriculture and the respective environmental impacts of agribusiness. The research methodology is grounded on a theoretical survey of study descriptions of the area, a characterization of rural communities and local population through interviews, an identification of medium and large agricultural enterprises through documentary research on environmental licensing processes, and determination of the environmental impacts of agribusiness via an interaction matrix. Based on the data generated, it was found that the majority of the population has an incomplete elementary education; is involved in agricultural activity, livestock farming, and honey production, which provide a family income of up to one minimum wage; and is located in rural communities with environmental sanitation restrictions. Moreover, it was found that irrigated agriculture has positive impacts, such as the generation of employment and income. It was also evidenced that this activity causes adverse socioeconomic impacts and adverse impacts on the traditional activities of local rural communities through plant removal, water scarcity, and pesticide use. Thus, to mitigate the problems, it is necessary to apply the principles of Brazilian Environmental Law as correlated with the instruments of the National Environment Policy through environmental management guidelines.

Keywords: traditional agriculture; irrigated agriculture; environmental governance; environmental justice (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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