In Brazil, we have two policies in order to allow access of families to the small landed property: one is based on the INCRA's action, the "traditional" land reform and the other, on the market-led land reform. In this sense, it is convenient to evaluate these polices and, with this purpose, we will analyze the available researches on these actions, and will also elaborate a comparative synthesis. The paper is structured in three sections: the first presents the results related to projects...

This article aims at analyzing the process of spatialization and territorialization of the Landless Rural Workers Movement (MST) in a spatiality mainly characterized by the homogenization of the agricultural landscape and territorial monopoly engendered by the agro-industrial capital, in the region of Ribeirão Preto (SP), between the years 1998 to 2012, having as main reference the actions of occupation of large estates with high environmental liability, belonging to the sugarcane industry,...

Discussions regarding the technical assistance and rural extension services (ATER) were intensified after the formulation of the National Policy of Technical Assistance and Rural Extension (PNATER). Thus, this work aims to provide theoretical basis to the analysis of the implications of PNATER and to promote reflections about ATER actions practiced in Microregion of Andradina- SP, Brazil. The PNATER is the result of efforts of social movements, the recognition of the potential of family...

This paper presents the discussion about the application of the politechny concept in work production organization in popular cooperatives. The politechny refers to the fusion of intellectual and manual labor, proposing the formation of polytechnic workers, holding technical and scientific knowledge about the work process, and its application to the self-management environment. This paper presents results of an empirical research conducted in four popular cooperatives – COPAVA-SP, COPAVI-PR,...

This study had as aim to assess environmental variables of settlements benefited from the agrarian reform programs in the central region of the state of São Paulo. The survey was conducted in two types of settlements: Federal Settlement Project – PA (Araraquara, Iaras, Colômbia and Piratininga) and Sustainable Development Project – PDS (Ribeirão Preto, São Carlos and Descalvado), where 60 families were interviewed. To check the environmental characteristics of the settlements, the following...

This paper presents preliminary results of a survey on the participation in the Food Acquisition Program of women living in land reform settlements of "Pontal do Paranapanema" (São Paulo State). Based on the discussion on gender issue in the Brazilian countryside, especially in the beneficiary populations of land reform policies, it evaluates the "invisibility" of the economic contribution of women – generally restricted to acting with house care activities and production for self...

Brazilian family farming is important for the production of foodstuffs and also for promoting the maintenance of man in the field, so it becomes necessary to implement public policies to promote their empowerment and recognition. In 2009, Law 11.947 approached family farming and education, because it determines that from the total financial resources allocated by the National Fund for Education Development - (FNDE), under the National School Feeding Program- PNAE, at least 30 % should be...

This paper sought to deepen, investigate and analyze the institutional and organizational obstacles of public policies for food security programs, in a period of change in municipal management. Our aim is, besides de obstacles, to identify the efficacy and effectiveness of SAN social network, highlighting the National Program of School Food – PNAE. The analysis focuses the city of Araraquara and its food security program network in its relationship with the settlements, highlighting its...

The current socioeconomic model, which advocates for profit as the ultimate purpose of its system, made the central region of the state of São Paulo a large industrial complex, where rural workers are cheap and seasonal work force. Leading to constant changes always favoring capital, the system triggers a cycle of dependency, disorganization and vulnerability in rural life. We can insert into this complex reality projects of rural settlements that represent a fair distribution of land and...

In recent years, various social movements around the world have internalized new values and epistemological principles built upon  environmental sustainability and social equity. Within this context, the aim of this paper was to understand the process of adopting a discourse based on the Agroecology by the Movement of Landless Rural Workers (MST) in Brazil. For this purpose, documents produced by MST were analyzed and semi-structured interviews with leaders of the Movement were applied. The...

This study compares two educational practices: the Rural School method (Escola do Campo) and the SESI teaching method, suggesting that the latter one is inefficient when applied to rural schools, as illustrated with a case study of a rural school that was obliged to adopt this method in 2012. The epistemological basis of a dialogical pedagogy for rural education has been used in order to criticize the practices of a method whose origins in the industrial ideology and in consumerism promotes...

Fundamentals of Theoretical Ecology and the principles governing ecosystems are discussed in relation to the anthropological concept of culture. These principles have been formed along with the development of Ecology and the advancement of other sciences not necessarily biologically based, such as Mathematics and Physics. A deeper understanding of Ecology in interdisciplinary projects is important because it is both a holistic Science, encompassing several disciplines of the field of...