656
M. Dantas
conquest of the land is only the first step towards the realization of agrarian reform.
An example of how mobilization has contributed to the creation of an institution is the
events that resulted in the creation of the Ministry of the Agricultural Development
(MDA). On April 17th of 1996, nineteen MST members were killed by the military
police while they were doing a blockade protest for agrarian reform in the state of
Para, North of Brazil. This massacre, known worldwide, became the International
Day of Peasants’ Struggle. According to MST history archives, the mobilizations
and worldwide repercussions of this event pressured the Federal administration to
create the MDA (MST: History journal n.d). The MDA was an essential and longanticipated achievement to represent the other spectrum of agriculture in Brazil, as
the MAPA has clear objectives towards industrial and large-scale agriculture. The
MDA was the institution to serve as an umbrella for agrarian reform, sustainable
development, family farming, and Social and Solidarity Economy interests. With a
separate budget administrated independently from the MAPA, Brazil saw significant
development of the family farm and solidarity economy institutional support from
2003 until 2015. However, when Brazil experienced a major political and economic
crisis, following the impeachment of the President Dilma Rousseff, under pressure to
stop the crises, the MDA was eliminated at the beginning of President Michel Temer
term as part of administrative reform to cut public spending. For a large portion of
the population, it seemed acceptable to cut funds supporting family farmers.
Communication and education also play an important role in shaping popular
belief systems which translate into popular support or demand for change. For
instance, in Brazil there is a widely accepted belief that government support for
family farming is social assistance, while the support for agribusiness is an economic investment, disregarding the fact that it is family farming that produces most
of the food people eat. Thus, concerning the systemic design behind our global food
system, a significant institutional change is needed, especially regarding how lobbying and the control of the public image of certain institutions by the elite influences
policy making to reflect private interest.
The election of Jair Bolsonaro for the Brazilian presidency in October, 2018
forecasted additional support for agribusiness and more disregard for environmental
issues. An interview for the Agência Brasil on November, 2018, demonstrates his
support for agribusiness, following the French president’s G20 declaration of concern
on taking on an ecological transition at home only to sign trade agreements with
countries that do not commit to ecological transitions, trade between Mercosur and
the European Union was suspended. In response, President-elect Bolsonaro stated,
“He does not intend to take on any environmental commitments that impact Brazilian
agribusiness,” citing protection of national interests as his reasoning [my translation]
(Agencia Brazil 2018).
The United Nation’s (UN) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is the largest
institution to promote food access in the world. Their goal is “to achieve food security
for all and make sure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to
lead active, healthy lives” (FAO, About us). FAO framework, research and reports
helped identify issues and possibilities around the world, stressing the enormous
potential of family farmers in preserving natural resources and eradicating hunger.
M. Dantas
conquest of the land is only the first step towards the realization of agrarian reform.
An example of how mobilization has contributed to the creation of an institution is the
events that resulted in the creation of the Ministry of the Agricultural Development
(MDA). On April 17th of 1996, nineteen MST members were killed by the military
police while they were doing a blockade protest for agrarian reform in the state of
Para, North of Brazil. This massacre, known worldwide, became the International
Day of Peasants’ Struggle. According to MST history archives, the mobilizations
and worldwide repercussions of this event pressured the Federal administration to
create the MDA (MST: History journal n.d). The MDA was an essential and longanticipated achievement to represent the other spectrum of agriculture in Brazil, as
the MAPA has clear objectives towards industrial and large-scale agriculture. The
MDA was the institution to serve as an umbrella for agrarian reform, sustainable
development, family farming, and Social and Solidarity Economy interests. With a
separate budget administrated independently from the MAPA, Brazil saw significant
development of the family farm and solidarity economy institutional support from
2003 until 2015. However, when Brazil experienced a major political and economic
crisis, following the impeachment of the President Dilma Rousseff, under pressure to
stop the crises, the MDA was eliminated at the beginning of President Michel Temer
term as part of administrative reform to cut public spending. For a large portion of
the population, it seemed acceptable to cut funds supporting family farmers.
Communication and education also play an important role in shaping popular
belief systems which translate into popular support or demand for change. For
instance, in Brazil there is a widely accepted belief that government support for
family farming is social assistance, while the support for agribusiness is an economic investment, disregarding the fact that it is family farming that produces most
of the food people eat. Thus, concerning the systemic design behind our global food
system, a significant institutional change is needed, especially regarding how lobbying and the control of the public image of certain institutions by the elite influences
policy making to reflect private interest.
The election of Jair Bolsonaro for the Brazilian presidency in October, 2018
forecasted additional support for agribusiness and more disregard for environmental
issues. An interview for the Agência Brasil on November, 2018, demonstrates his
support for agribusiness, following the French president’s G20 declaration of concern
on taking on an ecological transition at home only to sign trade agreements with
countries that do not commit to ecological transitions, trade between Mercosur and
the European Union was suspended. In response, President-elect Bolsonaro stated,
“He does not intend to take on any environmental commitments that impact Brazilian
agribusiness,” citing protection of national interests as his reasoning [my translation]
(Agencia Brazil 2018).
The United Nation’s (UN) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is the largest
institution to promote food access in the world. Their goal is “to achieve food security
for all and make sure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to
lead active, healthy lives” (FAO, About us). FAO framework, research and reports
helped identify issues and possibilities around the world, stressing the enormous
potential of family farmers in preserving natural resources and eradicating hunger.