Resumo O objetivo da pesquisa foi obter uma medida da intensidade de utilização das principais tecnologias pela agricultura familiar brasileira. Para tanto, foram inicialmente obtidos 59 indicadores de uso de diversas tecnologias, para cada mesorregião geográfica. Mediante análise fatorial, esses indicadores foram sintetizados em quatro fatores, cujos valores serviram de base para o cálculo de um índice de utilização de tecnologia. Constatou-se, a partir desses índices, que há grandes diferenças regionais quanto ao uso de tecnologia na agricultura familiar. Foi constatado que os maiores índices de utilização de tecnologia concentram-se no Sul do País, mas também no Sudeste, particularmente no estado de São Paulo. Com exceção do Distrito Federal, na região Centro-Oeste predominam situações de índices médios, enquanto no Norte e Nordeste, em geral, prevalecem índices baixos ou muito baixos.

In recent years, local food systems have come to be seen as a new possibility in creating markets for family farming. These systems are based on local production and consumption structures, with a primary focus on sustainability, locality and proximity. It is essential to understand the dynamics of these systems and their impact in the context of family farmers. Thus, this article seeks to identify in the literature the main theories and concepts used in the analysis of “local food systems”, verifying the state of the art of its theoretical elements related to the concept of “family farming” in Brazilian and international academia. The methodological procedure employed was a systematic literature review following the Methodi Ordinatio protocol, covering 30 articles indexed in the search portal Periódicos - Capes and in the database ProQuest. The main approaches included in this theme are presented in a summarized form, as well as the research gaps in the area are identified. The results show that these concepts involve themes such as local rural development, politicization of consumption, sustainability, market niches, agroecology, territorial valorization, and institutional programs.

Nos últimos tempos cresceu a discussão sobre os sistemas agroalimentares locais, colocando em evidência diferentes conceitos que carregam em si considerações sobre a estrutura social, econômica e sobre os aspectos ambientais. Esse trabalho busca abordar conceitos de produção local de alimentos, principalmente no contexto internacional e o seu correspondente no Brasil com a recente introdução de políticas públicas atuando tanto na melhoria dos alimentos fornecidos aos consumidores, como nas estratégias de desenvolvimento rural para regiões mais necessitadas. Verifica-se que nas conhecidas abordagens de Foodsheds, Embeddedness, Foodmiles e “cadeias agroalimentares curtas” os objetivos do uso dos conceitos variam desde o aprofundamento das relações sociais e melhoria da qualidade do alimento, redução da emissão de gases que provocam o efeito estufa até propostas mais ambiciosas como alcançar o desenvolvimento econômico de determinadas regiões.

Purpose: Organic food has additional quality attributes compared to those found in conventional food, such as environmental responsibility and health benefits. Information about these attributes is scarce and complex, the assortment of organic foods is deficient and there are fewer places that sell this kind of food. These factors increase the uncertainty and the transaction costs (TCs) for potential organic fresh fruit and vegetable (FFV) consumers. This paper aims to show the influence of these costs on the intensity of organic FFV consumption, particularly among high-income consumers.Design/methodology/approach: The empirical strategy was based on a survey, and data were collected by administering a structured online questionnaire among residents of the Brazilian Federal District. Organic food consumption was decomposed into three different intensity categories. Data analysis was based on two logistic models, a multinomial regression and an ordered regression, where perceived economic value and different dimensions of TCs were the main independent variables, and the intensity of organic food consumption was the dependent variable.Findings: The results show that organic food consumers are not a homogeneous group, and that perceived economic value and the TCs associated with searching for marketplaces, inadequate product assortment and distrust in health benefits and in organic authenticity are important inhibitors of organic FFV consumption and help explain the intensity of consumption.Originality/value: This study innovates, as it takes a post-purchase approach, examines different groups based on the intensity of their consumption of organic FFV and focuses on perceived economic value and TCs as important explanations of the intensity of organic FFV consumption.