Soberania alimentar e a (não) democratização da terra no Brasil: políticas públicas e seus impactos na agricultura familiar

Abstract

According to data from the Agricultural Census (2017), 77% of Brazilian agricultural establishments are classified as family farming, a category responsible for 23% of the total national production value and employing 10.1 million people (67% of the sector’s workforce). This study analyzes the historical events that shaped Brazil’s agrarian structure, focusing on the integration of public policies aimed at family farming and food sovereignty. Drawing on Josué de Castro’s Geography of Hunger, the work explores the relationship between urbanization, social inequalities, and food challenges, emphasizing that rural-urban migration, while linked to economic opportunities, intensifies cities’ dependence on external food supplies, increasing vulnerabilities such as food scarcity and price fluctuations. Using a hypothetical-deductive method and bibliographic analysis, the research examines the historical formation of Brazil’s land structure, juxtaposing national dynamics with the specific case of the State of Goiás. Key works on agrarian law, democratization of land access, territorial conflicts, and agricultural policies were selected, cross-referencing quantitative data (Agricultural Census, socioeconomic indicators) with critical theoretical frameworks. As a central contribution, the study proposes multisectoral strategies to avoid the predominance of monocultures, ensuring agricultural diversity and long-term sustainability. It argues that public policies must prioritize not only production but also equitable distribution and access to food, particularly in urban contexts. The research underscores the need for structural reforms to combat land concentration and promote family farming as a cornerstone of a sovereign national project.