Economia circular no contexto do empreendedorismo rural: um estudo em assentamentos de agricultores familiares

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the influence of sustainable practices on rural entrepreneurship and the circular economy in family farming settlements. Rural entrepreneurship, with the support of family farming, effectively contributes to production in rural areas. To carry out this production in a sustainable way, the use of sustainable techniques and practices has benefited the environment and promoted Sustainability. The circular economy, associated with economic development, seeks to optimize the use of natural resources through social and business awareness of circular metrics. Family farming settlements carry out various productive activities in rural areas and, through this process, implement sustainable practices that reduce these environmental impacts, favoring quality production. This thesis was divided into three studies. The first study investigated how rural entrepreneurship and family farming contribute to sustainability, aiming to identify research gaps related to sustainable rural entrepreneurship and family farming, and propose an agenda for future research through a systematic literature review (RSL). This is a qualitative study with a descriptive and exploratory approach, whose content analysis was carried out with the support of Rayyan and Atlas.ti software. In the second study were examined how the adoption of sustainable practices influences the incorporation of circular economy principles in this context, also using a qualitative and descriptive approach through a systematic literature review (RSL). This study sought to emphasize the relevance of entrepreneurial practices as drivers of sustainable business models in the transition between circular economy and family farming, identifying gaps for future studies, with content analysis carried out with the support of Rayyan and Atlas.ti software. In the third study, descriptive research was conducted, using the qualitative method of ethnography. This study sought to examine the influence of the circular economy on sustainable practices in the context of rural entrepreneurship in family farming settlements, specifically in the Serra Dourada settlement, located in the city of Goiás-GO. During an eight-month immersion, patterns and themes were mapped, described, interviewed and observed in the interaction with the social experience in this location, using recording techniques such as photos, filming, and field diary records of the activities experienced. The first stage of the research was carried out in two stages: semi-structured interviews and participant observation. The first was conducted with the participation of the settlement's family farmers, with the aim of gathering a socio-demographic profile to understand the research's target public, identifying the activities carried out in the settlement and the entrepreneurial profile of the settlers. The second stage sought to identify sustainable and circular practices in the production carried out in the settlement. In the second stage, the participation of stakeholders in supporting family farmers was analysed. Both stages of the research were content analysed using Atlas.ti software. The results of this study show that sustainable and circular practices are being implemented in rural areas in the Serra Dourada settlement. Mapping the scenario studied was fundamental to gaining an understanding of the social, economic and environmental relations of the group of settlers. It was possible to identify eight main categories related to production practices: (a) agricultural practices in rural areas; (b) entrepreneurial practices in rural areas; (c) education practices in rural areas; (d) sustainable practices in rural areas; (e) circular practices in rural areas; (f) commercialisation practices in rural areas; (g) agroecological practices in rural areas; and (h) stakeholder support practices in rural areas. The analysis of production practices revealed the interconnection between these categories, which together are responsible for contributing to access to various resources that favour living in the settlement, such as education in the countryside, access to the local market, the implementation of innovative production techniques, the correct way of disposing and reusing of certain waste in its organic treatment to be used as natural fertilizer. Stakeholders exert an important influence in supporting family farmers in preserving natural resources, seeking to integrate the development of actions that support production. This study contributed to the advancement of the field of research into entrepreneurship in rural areas, with the participation of family farming in sustainable and circular practices. The results could be useful for creating intervention plans and designing public policies, improving technical assistance for rural producers in family farming, with a technological package to contribute to innovation in the settlements. With this study, it is expected to contribute to the advancement of scientific research, highlighting the importance of entrepreneurship in rural areas, in making insertions that modify this scenario with innovation, new techniques and practices that seek to mitigate environmental impacts, with support from agriculture family in raising awareness of sustainability and circularity in the use of productive resources. This study has contributed to advancing from the research field into entrepreneurship in rural areas, involving the participation of family farming in sustainable and circular practices. The results obtained are useful for creating intervention plans and designing public policies, in addition to improving technical assistance to rural producers in the context of family farming, promoting innovation in settlements with the use of technological packages. With this study, it was possible to advance scientific research, highlighting the importance of entrepreneurship in rural areas. With the support of family farming, the study promoted greater awareness about sustainability and circularity in the use of productive resources, generating a significant social impact by strengthening rural communities and improving the quality of life of family farmers.