Pecuária familiar e Programa Nacional de Alimentação Escolar (PNAE): um estudo da inserção da carne ovina em escolas municipais de Arroio Grande, RS

Abstract

Since the 2000s, research has led to the recognition and appreciation of a new social category in rural Brazil: family livestock farming. This fact is inscribed in the potential that traditional animal husbandry production systems (cattle and sheep) have been carried out by these ranchers in meeting the pillars of environmental sustainability, as occurs in the Pampa gaúcho. However, the sheep farming practiced in family units faces marketing challenges, which implies limits to the social and economic reproduction of these establishments. In this sense, the advent of public policies, such as public purchases of food from family farming, help to obtain income and consequently, the social and economic reproduction of forms production family members. This is precisely the case with the meat insertion project. sheep in school meals, purchased from family farmers, in the municipality of Arroio Grande, RS. For this reason, the following questions arise: What are the agents? and institutions involved in the design of the project? Still, what is the impact of inclusion of sheep meat in school meals through the PNAE in the maintenance and expansion of the sheep farming chain in the municipality? Furthermore, what are the main challenges and perspectives of the project according to the different social actors involved. Therefore, the objective of the research is to analyze the structuring and effects of the project of inclusion of sheep meat in the PNAE in the municipality of Arroio Grande, RS. He was research was carried out with a qualitative approach, of a descriptive nature and interpretative. Interviews were conducted using a semi-structured script tokey respondents, seeking to offer a comprehensive and in-depth view on the initiative to introduce sheep meat into school meals in the municipality on screen, detailing the agents and institutions involved, including their functions, responsibilities and dynamics of their interactions. The interviews were conducted in person in November and December 2024. Initially, we sought to interview participants in the sheep meat insertion project through the PNAE in the municipality of Arroio Grande, RS. It was possible to identify STRAG, EMATER/RS and SMEAG as agents involved in the project design. With an impact on the maintenance and expansion of the sheep farming production chain, income generation was highlighted. It was also possible to confirm that the main challenge so far is that the municipality's refrigeration plant is closed and the project is on hold. As a perspective for the future, it is expected that the project will return to operation. As final considerations, it was found that the project demonstrates significant potential for the strengthening family livestock farming. The experience gained with the implementation of the project offers a replicable model for other regions, highlighting the importance of the articulation between different mediators for the success of similar initiatives.