A CADEIA PRODUTIVA DA CARNE: UMA FERRAMENTA PARA MONITORAR AS DINÂMICAS NAS FRENTES PIONEIRAS NA AMAZÔNIA BRASILEIRA?

Resumo

Pesquisas recentes têm mostrado que a organização da cadeia produtiva bovina é um fator de maior importância no desmatamento da Amazônia. Uma equipe pluridisciplinar estudou, de 1997 até 2003, a complexidade das interações cadeia/território nas frentes pioneiras. Foram identificadas três subcadeias, cujas áreas de abrangência delimitam zonas críticas. O estudo mostra que o funcionamento da cadeia bovina e sua ação sobre a estruturação dos espaços pioneiros se baseiam em mecanismos simples, os quais poderiam ser monitorados por medidas e políticas adequadas. Os autores apontam três prioridades: (i) implementar mecanismos de regulamentação da cadeia, garantindo seu bom funcionamento do ponto de visto econômico, social e ambiental; (ii) desenvolver ferramentas de gestão do território municipal nas frentes pioneiras; (iii) dinamizar o ordenamento territorial nas frentes pioneiras.

Termos para indexação: Amazônia brasileira, frentes pioneiras, dinâmicas espaciais, cadeia produtiva bovina.

THE LIVESTOCK COMMODITY CHAIN: A LEVER FOR MONITORING
PIONEER DYNAMICS IN THE BRAZILIAN AMAZON REGION?
ABSTRACT

Recent research shows that the organisation of the cattle sector is one of the major causes of deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon region, and its access to the world market is perceived as a serious threat. The reality, however, is far more complex as shown by an analysis of commodity chains and emerging land organisation in several frontier areas. A multidisciplinary research team developed an integrated approach to study these interactions, which are usually analysed separately in this region. The livestock commodity chain can be divided into local, regional and "export" sub-chains, each of which has its own specific space or zone of influence, where it plays a particular role on the emerging land organisation. Currently, the "export" sub-chain appears to be the main factor driving deforestation, which in frontier areas depends on four successive and interdependent steps: an increase in the number and size of cattle herds, the emergence of the organisation of the commodity chain, the attraction of the frontier area, and land organisation. If this development pathway is restricted, then the spatial impact of the sub-chain will remain limited, like that of the local and regional sub-chains when they face market saturation. Otherwise, a spiral of events may steamroll right over the frontier area, leaving behind a smooth space organised for one specific function only: cattle and milk production. Understanding this four-step development might help identify appropriate measures to curtail it. The starting point is the production of reliable and up-to-date information. This information—on the commodity chains (census and statistical data) and land occupation (spatial data)—is collected and processed by various institutions and could be brought together to build monitoring indicators. Beyond this information gathering, protective measures should be implemented around three key processes involved in the spatial dynamics: commodity chain regulations should be established, tools should be developed for municipal land management, and land use planning must be revitalized in the frontier areas. The proposed regulation mechanisms should guarantee access to markets dependent on forest preservation and respect for labour rights. Access to the world market might favour this process, by disseminating international standards and requirements throughout the Amazon region. Land management, particularly in critical municipalities, should rely on participatory implementation of spatially-explicit tools (GIS) with local administration and stakeholders. Finally, without measures for land use planning in frontier areas, the cattle commodity chain will often be the only sector present and will organise the land in the most productive way for itself, which will include massive forest clearing.

Index terms: livestock farming, territory, agricultural land, agricultural policy, food production policy.

LA FILIÈRE VIANDE: UN LEVIER POUR CONTRÔLER LES
DYNAMIQUES PIONNIÈRES EN AMAZONIE BRÉSILIENNE?
RÉSUMÉ

Des recherches récentes montrent que l'organisation de la filière viande est au premier rang des facteurs de déforestation en Amazonie. Une équipe pluridisciplinaire a étudié de 1997 à 2003 la complexité des interactions filière/territoire sur les fronts pionniers. Les auteurs identifient deux sous-filières permettant de délimiter des zones critiques. Ils montrent que le fonctionnement de la filière et son action sur la structuration des espaces pionniers reposent sur des mécanismes simples qui pourraient être contrôlés par des mesures adéquates. L'étude conclut sur une proposition en trois points: (i) instaurer dans la filière des mécanismes de régulation garantissant son bon fonctionnement; (ii) mettre en place des outils de gestion du territoire communal sur les fronts pionniers; (iii) dynamiser l'aménagement de l'espace sur les fronts pionniers.

Termes d'indexation: productions animales, territoire, foncier, politique agricole et alimentaire.