Work and technological innovation in organic agriculture

• Grant number: 09/54452-4
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: May 01, 2010
• End date: April 30, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Production Engineering - Product Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Mauro José Andrade Tereso
• Grantee: Mauro José Andrade Tereso
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia Agrícola (FEAGRI). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Organic agriculture is viewed as an ecological, economic and social sustainable production system. There are some researches related to technical, economic social and ecological aspects of organic agriculture, but few scientific investigations approach the technological aspects of organic agriculture, especially under an ergonomic perspective. Using activity analysis, this work aims a technological mapping of organic horticulture, identifying adaptations, innovations and technological demands that, at the same time, reduce the work load and raise the work productivity. This work seeks to identify the technology used in organic horticulture using the Ergonomics Work Analysis Method. Several organic farms, typical of the state of São Paulo, will be select for the analysis. This study will allow the composition of a picture that describes the technological specificities in its aspects of adaptation and innovation from the different work systems and different stages of production. From the systematic observation of work activities, this study will make a mapping of technological demands of equipments and tools for raising work productivity and lowering the work load. (AU)