Gestão de riscos climáticos do agronegócio: estudo com agricultores do município de Uberaba (MG)

Abstract

i) Contextualization: Climate change has generated significant impacts on agribusiness systems, directly affecting food security and the economic stability of production chains, especially in vulnerable territories. In Brazil, the Triângulo Mineiro stands out as a strategically important region both economically and environmentally, but one that has increasingly faced extreme climate events with greater frequency and intensity. In this context, understanding how large-scale farmers have been dealing with climate risks becomes essential for the development of effective adaptive strategies. ii) Objective: To analyze how farmers located in the municipality of Uberaba (MG) have been dealing with climate risks, considering their socioeconomic and environmental conditions. iii) Method: The study adopted a qualitative approach, based on semi-structured interviews conducted with ten large-scale farmers exclusively engaged in agricultural production in the municipality of Uberaba (MG). The sample was non-probabilistic and intentional, with complementary use of the snowball sampling technique. Data analysis was carried out through content analysis. iv) Alignment with the PPGAdm's area of concentration and research line: The research is aligned with the concentration area of the Graduate Program in Administration of the Federal University of Uberlândia (PPGAdm/UFU), as it investigates social and organizational processes related to climate adaptation in the Triângulo Mineiro, specifically in the municipality of Uberaba, Minas Gerais. By considering the specific realities of this municipality, the study promotes reflections on local management and sustainability. v) Theoretical contribution and innovative aspects: This study contributes to the advancement of literature on climate risk management in agriculture by analyzing how farmers engage with climate adaptation in a situated and incremental manner, conditioned by environmental, economic, and institutional factors, based on empirical evidence within a regional context. vi) Economic, social, and regional impact: The results provide relevant insights for improving public policies, financial instruments, and rural extension actions that are better aligned with farmers’ realities, contributing to strengthening productive resilience and reducing economic and social vulnerabilities in rural areas. vii) Regional implications: By investigating the municipality of Uberaba in the Triângulo Mineiro, the research highlights how climate risks are addressed at the local scale, reinforcing the importance of management strategies and public policies that are sensitive to the territorial and institutional specificities of the region. In this way, the study strengthens the debate on regionality and management by demonstrating how global processes, such as climate change, materialize and are confronted at the local level. viii) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) addressed by the research: This study aligns with SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), particularly Target 12.2, which proposes the efficient use of natural resources, and with SDG 13 (Climate Action), notably Targets 13.1 (resilience and adaptation to climate-related hazards) and 13.3 (education and capacity-building in mitigation and adaptation to climate change).