Fourteenth International Conference on Interdisciplinary Social Sciences

Abstract

Brazil is a global leader regarding coffee production, but when it comes to the production of specialty coffee with higher added value, its full acceptance by the greatest consuming markets is still a challenge. In this context, the adoption of Geographical Indications (GI) is presented as an important indicator for a region to be formally recognized in the condition of producer of differentiated coffees. It is perceived that the participation of the State and other involved agents is fundamental in this process. The present study empirically studies these relationships. Methods include in-depth interviews, documental analyses, and observation with varied segments of the agents present in the field, with emphasis on three coffee producing regions: Noroeste de Minas and Matas de Minas, in the state of Minas Gerais, and Alta Mogiana, in the state of São Paulo. All three regions were selected for being the most representative and most convenient for the universe of specialty Brazilian coffees and their high relative degree of institutional development, considering that two of the areas (Noroeste de Minas and Alta Mogiana) already have Geographical Indication (GI), and the third (Matas de Minas) is currently in the process of adopting it. The results of the research indicate a long-lasting experience of the production activity in Brazil, where the institutionalization of an organizational field is presented as a key variable for the enhancement of the coffee markets for the present economical situation, which privileges differentiated quality and consumption experiences.