Implicações das mudanças do arcabouço legal da UFPel nas compras públicas de alimentos da agricultura familiar

Abstract

Given the importance of family farming, state support through public policies is necessary. Among the various programs already in place in Brazil, the Food Acquisition Program (PAA) has undergone increased efforts to overcome sectoral logic and align food production by family farming with the world of consumption and food security. There are five modalities within the PAA, but this study focused on the modality called "Institutional Procurement," which focuses on the experience of the University Restaurant of the Federal University of Pelotas (UFPel). Aware that UFPel's administration adopted two management models at different times, the objective of this research was to evaluate the influence of the changes between self-management and outsourcing by comparing the types of food purchased in 2017 and 2024, determining the amounts actually spent in those years. The main changes to the PAA's legal framework (laws, decrees, and resolutions) were also analyzed, seeking to identify its evolution to the present day. The research was qualitative through the collection and analysis of secondary data, including documents such as public calls for proposals, minutes, and other official University information. Regarding the legislative aspects, the mandatory purchase of at least 30% of the resources used for food purchases from family farms (Dec. N°. 8,473/15) stands out. The results at UFPel indicated a substantial decrease in the diversity of food purchased in 2024 (n=20) and in 2017 (n=68). Likewise, the total value purchased from family farms in 2017 was R$2,512,960.37, compared to R$860,275.15 purchased in 2024. It can be concluded that the effects of outsourcing caused the percentage of family farms in the UFPel restaurant to decrease considerably during the analyzed period. This fact highlights the need to review procedures so that legislation is simultaneously complied with and family farms are effectively recognized and valued.