Agroenergy Production by Family Farmers: a contribution of “small” family enterprises to the “big” current problems

Abstract

This paper addresses the agroenergy as a response to the self-confrontation with development and modernity side effects, in a risk society context. Brazil stands out in this scenario with a consolidated production of ethanol, and a recent program that encourages the biodiesel production. We argue, however, that such forms of production do not generate, necessarily, positive effects on rural development, neither socio-economically, neither environmentally. Nevertheless, agrofuel production experiences arise, headed by family farmers, which can be considered as a self-confrontation to side effects of the traditional Brazilian agroenergy model, based on large and modern monocultures. Through two initiatives in Rio Grande do Sul, we demonstrate how the family farmers make agrofuels in an integrated way with food, strengthening their agency capacity in promoting and driving rural development processes more sustainable. Thus, agroenergy arises as an alternative to diversify the family farm, contributing to the autonomy and the construction of social and economic reproduction strategies. Besides, it provides answers to environmental risks generated by modern society.