Food and agriculture quality in a market economy: organic production and the certifying of farm products for obtaining a Green Seal

• Grant number: 97/13244-0
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Research Partnership for Technological Innovation - PITE
• Start date: July 01, 1998
• End date: August 31, 2001
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy
• Principal Investigator: Tsai Siu Mui
• Grantee: Tsai Siu Mui
• Host Institution: Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura (CENA). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• City of the host institution: Piracicaba
• Company: Shimura's Granja / Shimjura Alimentos Ltda

Abstract

Rural modernization has brought benefits, but at the same time social and environmental problems, such as growing pollution through the intensive use of agrochemicals. This project initially aimed to obtain agricultural commodities (corn and beans) and potatoes through an intensive system of organic production (worm humus), with low use of additives and at a lower cost when compared to conventional agriculture. CENA / USP and the Microtoxin Laboratory of the Luiz de Queiroz Higher School of Agriculture (ESALQ) / USP continued in their efforts to achieve a qualification for certifying farm products with the official mark of the Green Seal, by means of a comparative analysis of the organic production of beans, corn and potatoes by the company Shimura Alimentos Ltda. with other conventional production of these crops. This project could also serve as a model to make the Brazilian small farm holder economically viable, via the production of clean and certified foodstuffs. With the qualification of the CENA/ESALQ laboratories in toxicological analysis, the opportunity will also be open for interaction between a teaching and research institution with companies which need to have their products qualified. (AU)