The potential of family farming to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in a mining region

Abstract

Abstract This article addresses the potential of family farming to reach the Sustainable Development Goals. Based on data from the Agricultural Census for the municipality of Mariana, in the Iron Quadrangle (Quadrilátero Ferrífero) region of Minas Gerais, an analytical and evaluation model for the fulfillment of sustainability goals was created using indicators referring to the characteristics of production and family farmers. Our study is based on the conception of donut economy and sustainability, aiming to contribute to the debate on the need to overcome the extractive and predatory development model represented by mining. The results indicate the potential of agroecologically-based family farming for the fulfillment of sustainability goals, as well as pointing out challenges to be overcome, through public policies and social organization to promote a new development model in mining regions.

Keywords

• Circular Economy
• Family Farming
• Quadrilátero Ferrífero
• Sustainable Development
• Sustainability Indicators