Relações interorganizacionais em grupos de pequenos produtores familiares no sul de Minas Gerais: reflexões críticas e inovações sociais

Abstract

This article is the result of an intellectual and empirical effort that sought to unravel the main relations between interorganizational cooperation activities and the creation of social innovations. The aim of the study was to discursively identify which and how are established the main Interorganizational cooperation relations, social innovations and Fair Trade/Sustainability initiatives developed by small organic food producers in southern Minas Gerais, Brazil. The theoretical axes of the work were based on discussions regarding Interorganizational Relations and Cooperation on Social Innovations and Fair Trade. As for the methodology, the fieldwork was conducted between November 2013 and January 2014. Seventeen interviews were conducted by means of Participatory Rapid Assessment that were later transcribed and analyzed in light of Critical Discourse Analysis. The survey results pointed to multiple formats of cooperation in intra and inter-organizational scenarios and to low levels of domestic competition. Cooperative relations among farmers were prior to the Fair Trade certification establishment. Furthermore, it was evident that Fair Trade can be understood as Social Innovation, however, the data shows some discursive inconsistencies related to certification agencies.