Innovative Certification Models Based on Digital Agriculture for Small and Medium Farmers: A Path Toward Sustainability and Market Inclusion

• Grant number: 25/10368-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: July 01, 2025
• End date: June 30, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Applied Social Sciences - Administration
• Principal Investigator: Paulo Henrique Montagnana Vicente Leme
• Grantee: Fernanda Nunes Maciel
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Sociais Aplicadas (FCSA). Universidade Federal de Lavras (UFLA). Lavras , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 22/09319-9 - Center of Science for Development in Digital Agriculture - CCD-AD/SemeAr, AP.CCD

Abstract

Agricultural certification is one of the main mechanisms for accessing differentiated markets and enhancing sustainable practices. However, traditional certification models are often inaccessible to small and medium-sized producers due to costs, process complexity, and limited technical capacity that outweigh their operational capabilities. Digital agriculture - through the adoption of sensors, mobile applications, management platforms, and blockchain - offers new opportunities to reduce monitoring costs, increase traceability, and streamline certification processes.In this context, the development of a theoretical model of digital certification adapted to the reality of small and medium-sized farmers is proposed, focusing on productive inclusion and the use of digital tools to facilitate auditing, monitoring, and compliance with sustainability and food safety standards.