Urban agriculture production in Natal (RN): from conventional to organic

Abstract

The objective of this study was to analyze the trajectory of farms of the Association of Friends and Producers of vegetables Residents of Sitio Gramore and adjacencies (AMIGS), which are responsible for an important part of the supply of Natal - Rio Grande do Norte. The choice of this association is due to the fact that farms, since 2012, are changing from a conventional production system, that was absorbing lots of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, to the organic system, that is producing less impact to the environment and people's health. It was found that the organization of farmers by association, and the partnership with companies and institutions were essential to enable the change of the production system, reducing the dependence on intermediaries, through direct marketing production at environmental fairs. Despite these advances, it was found that there are problems related to individual purchase of inputs used in crop and conflicts with conventional system farmers.