Feiras agroecológicas em Uberlândia-MG: Desafios e Perspectivas.

Abstract

Agroecology has gained space in people's lives, both for producers and consumers, in spreading the search for an ecological way of life and a healthy diet, as an alternative to food contaminated by pesticides, and harmful to nature in its production. In addition to the traditional free-trade fairs, the city of Uberlândia (MG) has three main weekly agro-ecological fairs, which have significant significance in the transformation of the local reality. Through the free trade fair, an instrument so old and intrinsic to the culture of society, it is possible to generate the opportunity of work and income for the farmers, and supply of food, and other products, with quality for the population. This research aims to highlight the importance of agroecology to society, as well as to know the origin and places that commercialize agroecological products in Uberlândia (MG). The specific objectives are to highlight agroecological agriculture in Brazil, to understand how the transition process to agroecological agriculture occurs and finally to contextualize the agroecological fairs of the city of Uberlândia (MG). For the construction of this work, bibliographical researches were carried out, visits to the agroecological fairs of the city, interviews with the fairs of these fairs, and analysis of the information obtained through an interview. It can be seen that there is considerable demand from the Uberlandian population for agroecological products, and there is therefore a positive view on sales at fairs, which count on a great variety of products offered. Farmers have realized that there is a need for a gradual awareness of the population in relation to agroecology and the solidarity economy, and their biggest challenges are to manage their plantations, deal with financial investment issues in their family business, and have the opportunity to study each to become empowered in their work.