Biofuels in the search of alternatives to family farming: initiatives and expectations of COOPERBIO in the Northwest of Rio Grande do Sul

Abstract

Biofuels production might represent a new opportunity to Brazilian small family farmers. This article explores this issue in a study about the Cooperativa Mista de Produção, Industrialização e Comercialização de Biocombustíveis do Brasil Ltda. (COOPERBIO), created in 2005 by rural social movements in the Northwestern region of Rio Grande do Sul. After indicating the general features of biofuels production and describing the region, the article presents the actions towards ethanol and oil production, by groups of families, coupled with food production according to principles of agroecology. The possibilities represented by such initiative to small family farmers and to local development are discussed.