The importance of private interest organizations in the agribusiness: the case of apple production chain in Brazil

Abstract

The requirements of market standards demand organization in the production sector to assist the private sector. Some organizational structures allow understanding the changes and providing incentives for these could be implemented. The Integrated Fruit Production (IFP) has emerged as a demand of the productive sector that needed a system of certification and traceability. The objective of this research is to examine the importance of organizations (associations) of private interest in the production chain of apples in Brazil that adopt the IFP and see how they work with further structures of the productive sector. The methodology initially consists of na initial exploratory study to better understand the characteristics of the sector. There was also a descriptive and explanatory research using questionnaires and semi-structured interviews in companies, cooperatives, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply (MAPA) and also the coordination of the Program. The participants highlighted the importance of organizations of private interest as a driver of change, with a participation in training activities, dissemination of products and mainly from improvements in lobbying activities to the State. By the State, it has been observed that these associations were of great importance for the adoption of IFP in Brazil.