TY - JOUR
T1 - Multicriteria analysis of the sustainability
performance between agroecological and
conventional coffee farms in the East Region of
Minas Gerais (Brazil)
AU - Pronti, Andrea
AU - Coccia, Mario
PY - 2020
Y1 - 2020
N2 - The goal of this study is to perform a comparative analysis of agroecological and conventional
small coffee farms. We investigated 15 coffee farms in the East region of Minas Gerais, a
Brazilian rural region, based on coffee production using a multicriteria analysis with economic,
social and environmental factors. The results suggest that agroecological farms perform
better than conventional farms in terms of sustainability, reduce labor intensity and
improve income stability and the environmental impact, such as agro-biodiversity and forest
cover. In particular, the results reveal that agroecological farms, though they have lower levels
of coffee productivity than conventional farms, perform better in terms of income stabilization.
This result depends on product diversification (such as agri-food products, vegetables or
fruits) for local markets, which reduces farmer risks associated with coffee price volatility,
improving both the local economy and local food security. Moreover, agroecological farms
rely more on labor than capital. Overall, the results of this study reveal that agroecological systems
support the socio-economic sustainability of the rural areas under study and suggest the
potential of agroecology to boost sustainable development in the East Region of Minas Gerais.
In short, the spread of agroecological systems could improve local employment conditions,
reducing migration toward large cities and shanty towns in other parts of Brazil. Hence, agroecology
systems can represent the main alternative to conventional production systems to
improve the well-being and wealth of rural populations in developing countries. The analysis
presented in this study is based on a specific case study, but the rural area under study has
many similarities with other areas in Latin America regarding all aspects of economic, social
and environmental sustainability. Finally, some agricultural policy implications are discussed.
AB - The goal of this study is to perform a comparative analysis of agroecological and conventional
small coffee farms. We investigated 15 coffee farms in the East region of Minas Gerais, a
Brazilian rural region, based on coffee production using a multicriteria analysis with economic,
social and environmental factors. The results suggest that agroecological farms perform
better than conventional farms in terms of sustainability, reduce labor intensity and
improve income stability and the environmental impact, such as agro-biodiversity and forest
cover. In particular, the results reveal that agroecological farms, though they have lower levels
of coffee productivity than conventional farms, perform better in terms of income stabilization.
This result depends on product diversification (such as agri-food products, vegetables or
fruits) for local markets, which reduces farmer risks associated with coffee price volatility,
improving both the local economy and local food security. Moreover, agroecological farms
rely more on labor than capital. Overall, the results of this study reveal that agroecological systems
support the socio-economic sustainability of the rural areas under study and suggest the
potential of agroecology to boost sustainable development in the East Region of Minas Gerais.
In short, the spread of agroecological systems could improve local employment conditions,
reducing migration toward large cities and shanty towns in other parts of Brazil. Hence, agroecology
systems can represent the main alternative to conventional production systems to
improve the well-being and wealth of rural populations in developing countries. The analysis
presented in this study is based on a specific case study, but the rural area under study has
many similarities with other areas in Latin America regarding all aspects of economic, social
and environmental sustainability. Finally, some agricultural policy implications are discussed.
KW - Agroecology
KW - Brazil
KW - coffee
KW - multicriteria analysis
KW - sustainability
KW - sustainable agriculture
KW - Agroecology
KW - Brazil
KW - coffee
KW - multicriteria analysis
KW - sustainability
KW - sustainable agriculture
UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10807/204629
U2 - 10.1017/S1742170520000332
DO - 10.1017/S1742170520000332
M3 - Article
SN - 1742-1705
VL - 2020
SP - 299
EP - 306
JO - Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems
JF - Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems
ER -