Overview of organic agriculture in Brazil, characteristics of the market for fresh and minimally-processed products, the specific features of the distribution chain of each of these markets, prospects for the consumption of organic products in industrial catering, production costs and the organization of the production chain in such a way as to guarantee prices, quality and a regular supply to the market. Rio de Una’s profile, marketing strategies and distribution model.

Presentation of the reasons that led us to launch a brand-name for organic products, and the timeframe of related facts, namely:
Creation of the brand-name concept and production philosophy / Dissemination, advertising and promotion / Commercial structure, distribution and sales channels / Consumer profile / Sales strategy / Quality policy .

The Brazilian domestic market for organic products is still very small. After several products were launched in 2001 and the beginning of 2002, it seems that Brazilian companies in this field decided to “wait a while”. As most organic raw materials produced in Brazil are exported, the prices of raw materials for the local market have become inappropriate. We touch on possible strategies that could make organic products accessible to the consumer. The examples used come from Wessanen’s own experience in this market.

Organic products at the Zona Sul Supermarkets - Background - Evolution - Results - Limiting factors for growth in Organic Products - Legal Requirements - Logistical structure - Packaging and Information - Prices - Organic Products vs. Conventional Products - Future prospects for Organic Products - Social role - Consumption potential - The need for harmonization among commerce, producer and industry.

Commercial Structure for Fruit & Vegetables in the Large-scale Retail Sector in Brazil - Fruit & Vegetables supply chain to the Brazilian Supermarket - Qualification of Fruit & Vegetables Suppliers to Supermarkets - Excellence of Fruit & Vegetables in Supermarkets - Organic products as a consumption trend – Current demands for the Fruit & Vegetables Category in the supermarket. 

Arnaldo spoke about the format of Carrefour’s purchase policy for organic products / The importance of organic products to the Carrefour Chain / Indication of organic products in the store

A short summary of NaturaSì’s history, reporting the main accomplishments of this supermarket chain, describing NaturaSì’s sales format (characteristics, sales typology, stock) and also its marketing approach. The differences between this trading formula and conventional supermarkets. Logistics and the organization of supplies. Explanation of how the franchise system works, its strong points and weak points. The main objective of the presentation was to provide the elements  necessary to enable NaturaSì’s case history to be repeated in Brazil. 

The history of the Hipp Group. The baby food market in Europe. Hipp as an organic raw-material purchaser. Working the organic market. Latin America as a source of organic ingredients for Hipp. Hipp’s policy for obtaining data. 

Family agriculture is a segment involving more than 4 million families, which generates approximately 38% of the GDP of the farming and cattle raising sector and occupies over 75% of the workforce in the rural area. Organic or agro-ecological production systems are favorable to family agriculture, because they reduce the risk of contamination of farmers and of the environment in which they live, tend to have a lower production cost and a higher sales margin, and favor local development and an overall improvement in the quality of life of these farmers. For these and other reasons, the objective of the Family Agriculture Secretariat is to consolidate a policy of support to producers with differentiated territory and quality, in which organic products are included. For that purpose, it is involved in the drawing up of the regulations for the sector, so that they are adapted to this particular segment, and in furthering production through financing, training and promotion programs.

AS-PTA, Advice and Services for Projects in Alternative Agriculture, is an NGO whose purpose is to give support to family farmers. It uses the agro-ecology model as a basis for agricultural technology, which ensures sustainable production. It  operates in connection with a national network known as ANA (National Agro-ecology Articulation), to which all the large organizations of family farmers in the country and dozens of supporting NGOs belong. At the present stage of evolution of agro-ecological production in Brazil, an increase in scale that will lead to the general adoption of these practices depends basically on the support of favorable public policies adapted to this model. That requires adjustments in credit policy, which are already being adopted by SAF/MDA but which still involve difficulties in the way it is operated by the financial agents. There is a need to adopt policies restricting the use of genetically modified organisms and pesticides, whose use often harms agro-ecological plantations by involuntary contamination.

The development proposal for the organic productive and agro-industrial chain in the State of Rio de Janeiro coincides with the mission of SEBRAE (the small entrepreneurs’ support service) -"to promote the competitiveness and sustainable development of small and micro-companies". Following these principles, the initiatives undertaken by SEBRAE in Rio de Janeiro have been aimed at integrating these rural communities with projects relating to agribusiness, tourism, crafts, associativity, entrepreneurship and public policies, in an effort to promote Integrated and Sustainable Local Development.

Overview and Prospects of Brazilian Agribusiness; Banco do Brasil – a Quantitative Outline; BB and the Nation; BB and Agribusiness; BB and the Organic Markets - Products and Services; Actions Undertaken.     

Municipalities in which the Bank operates; presentation of the Development Program for Organic Farming and Cattle Raising in the North-east Region.  Activities that the Bank has been engaged in. The “SNE-VERDE” credit  line program (Financing Program for Environmental Preservation and Control). Explanation of how the Bank can finance organic farming and cattle raising, in addition to financing for farmers in the stage of conversion under certification processes. The Bank intends to train technical professionals to accompany small-scale farmers who wish to produce and who have no access to traditional certification.

Characteristics of the trade in organic products in Brazil and in the world. Main challenges for growth in the sector. Prospects.

AxialPar contributes financial resources to sustainable agribusinesses by means of shareholder participation. It is a risk capitalist that seeks, instead of maximum returns, remuneration compatible with the opportunity cost of investments with a lower risk. Based on what has been learnt in the last few years, AxialPar is developing and applying a management model for sustainable agribusinesses, with a view to constantly improving the social and environmental indicators, by developing an open and transparent relationship with the interested parties, with which the company receiving investment maintains a relationship during its day-to-day activities.

Professor Matos’ living pharmacies. Presenting a short biography of Professor Francisco José de Abreu Matos, together with his work at the Federal University of Ceará, and the importance of the living pharmacy for the population, considering that the living pharmacy project seeks to find high-quality pharmacological alternatives for low-income communities

Information on Klabin’s phyto-therapy program, which was started in 1984 and certified (FSC) in 1999 by the Rainforest Alliance and Instituto Imaflora. This phyto-therapy operation seeks to improve the community’s quality of life and to preserve and use rationally the biodiversity present in over 85,000 ha of native forests and in sub-groves of commercial plantations. The manipulation laboratory currently produces about 30 products in the Therapeutic Line from medicinal plants, and 30 products in the Phytosphere Line – Beauty & Health.

Recent organic techniques already enable the growing of tropical and temperate zone fruits without any need to use materials prohibited by the Organic Rules. The market for certified organic fruit, especially those of tropical origin (mango, banana, papaya and Formosa pawpaws, melon, pineapple) has been very receptive in some countries of the European Community and in the United States. Presentation of some statistical data showing the strong demand in the main importing countries.

Organic vegetable growing in the State of Rio de Janeiro, victories and challenges. The address focuses on the main techniques used: soil management, propagation, fertilization, diversity and environmental situation. The aim is to present what has already been achieved and the current challenges faced by producers and technical professionals connected with the Biological Farmers Association (Associação dos Agricultores Biológicos – ABIO).

The presentation was based on information obtained from the data base of the Planeta Orgânico portal and on the questionnaires distributed in several States of Brazil during the 40 BioFach-Brazil seminars that were held. The comparison of these data makes it possible to draw an approximate profile of the expectations of consumers and of those who work within the organic sector.   

This study focused on some aspects of organic milk production, with respect to the world trend among consumers to demand “clean” products, free of agro-chemicals and other pesticides that are harmful to the health of human beings and to the preservation of the environment. Certain assumptions and situations regarding organic milk production are considered, as well as the requirements of the certifiers, and a brief report on the Embrapa Dairy Cattle proposal to face the challenges of economically viable organic production.

The project at Fazenda Vale das Palmeiras began in February, 1997. The farm is located in the Municipality of Teresópolis, in the State of Rio de Janeiro. Conditions in this mountain region are favorable for the production of fruit and vegetables, milk and dairy products. The aim of the project is to develop a production model based on the principles of biodynamic agriculture, that is, to be an agricultural organism, in which the production sectors are all integrated, and with a sustainable system, without bringing in raw materials from outside. The development of Organic Cattle Raising is being carried out gradually. At present, the herd consists of 125 cattle, including 60 mixed-breed cows (girolando / brown-swiss), 25 heifers and 40 calves. An animal genetic improvement program is being carried out, with the objective of obtaining hardy animals, well adapted to the organic cattle raising system.

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