Agroeconegócio: o impossível viés ecológico do agronegócio

Abstract

Our focus with this work is to investigate the process of generalization and differentiation of the (re)production of space under the determination of the commodity world in a context where capitalist logic expands into the agrarian space, creating a circuit of accumulation based on organic commodity-foods, nourishing itself from its own structural crisis. This demonstrates that the need for expanded reproduction of capital in a context of structural crisis produces new spaces of accumulation. This process unfolds in the context of the organic and/or healthy food circuit by agriecobusiness, which is conceptualized as a global system of production, processing, circulation, certification, and consumption of organic foods. No longer limited to local networks of producers and consumers, today the organic food circuit is part of the context of globalized capitalism, articulating spaces and territories on a global scale. Big capital through transnational and national corporations has territorialized itself in the organic production sector from various fronts: in seed production (M&M Mars), through large supermarket chains (Whole Foods, Pão de Açúcar on a national scale), dominating and concentrating large extensions of land for the production of organic meat and in the production of processed or industrialized foods (Coca-Cola, WhiteWave, Nestlé, Danone, Unilever, etc.). In Brazil, we can highlight some companies that operate in the capitalist circuit of organic foods, such as Mãe Terra (Unilever) in the area of processed snacks, Grupo Balbo owning the Native brand, and the Biodinâmico Institute (certification of organic products). The critical analysis of Brazilian agribusiness revealed a series of concerning aspects: dependence on imported inputs, transnational oligopolistic control, focus on export to the detriment of internal needs, agroindustrialization under foreign control, and dependence on governmental incentives. These factors contribute to genetic homogenization, monocultures, and other severe environmental and social problems. Finally, it allowed us to understand the existence of a circuit of accumulation of organic commodity-foods in Brazil and how this relates to the dynamics of equalization and differentiation of space. We observed the monopolization of territories, the exploitation of land and carbon rent, and the territorialization of agriecobusiness monopolies. Furthermore, we analyzed the experience of peasant production of organic oranges on the north coast of Bahia, showing how it fits into the global circuit of organic commodity-foods, and how local production is affected by the processes of subordination and exploitation imposed by agribusiness.