Interações inter-regionais nas vendas de produtos de agricultores familiares para alimentação escolar, estado de São Paulo, Brasil

Introduction: Article 14 (A14) of Federal Law 11.947/2009 School Feeding Program (NSFP) mandates that municipal governments purchase some school food products from family farmers. The intention is to strengthen short supply chains and encourage the consumption of fresh or minimally processed foods. Questions have been raised about the effectiveness and reach of A14’s implementation by municipalities in the state of São Paulo. Objective: To assess the efficacy of the legislation in strengthening short supply chains and to evaluate whether this arrangement is the best way to promote the growth of agricultural regions. Methods: Studies on the relationship between school food purchases and local development in the state of São Paulo were reviewed. Accountability reports from the 645 municipalities in São Paulo regarding school food, submitted to the National Fund for the Development of Education in 2018, were analyzed. Results and Discussion: The law’s ability to influence commercial flows and stimulate greater participation of family farmers is limited in most municipalities. In populous regions, such as the city of São Paulo, an important short supply chain of fresh products has formed. However, the largest local purchases came from distant regions that, through associations and cooperatives, manage to offer large volumes of products, many of them processed. Conclusions: in less populated areas, sales to NSFP have become an important source of income for farmers, through sales to highly populated regions rather than through short supply chains. It is suggested that the relationship between cooperatives/associations and family farmers be more thoroughly evaluated.