SUGGESTED ADDITIONAL DESTINATIONS
BAHIA
Africa meets South America in the staggeringly beautiful northeastern state of Bahia. The heady blend of two seemingly disparate cultures – classic Portuguese architecture and African drum beats, Catholic churches and Candomblé (Afro-Brazilian religion) – is unique. However, not only of culture the wealth of Bahia is made. The state’s economy is one of the largest in the country, and it has the biggest GDP of the states of the North/Northeast. To give an idea, Bahia is the main producer and exporter of cacao in Brazil. In addition to important agricultural and industrial sectors, the state also has considerable mineral and petroleum deposits. In fact, recently, soy cultivation has increased substantially in the state.
With a port located in Salvador, Bahia’s capital, the agribusiness sector is showing great development, increasing not only the production numbers of those products typical of the area, but also introducing new items to its agriculture portfolio. Moreover, the cattle raising sector is currently living a booming period. São Desidério, one of the main cities in this production field, shows nearly three times more cattle than people: 27 659 inhabitants against 80,445 heads of cattle. In view of these facts, Bahia presents itself as a great destination where participants can observe how international and national demands may influence a production pattern, and, once this demand is shown, how are the producers working in order to adapt to it.
BRASÍLIA
Brasília is the federal capital of Brazil, and seat of government of the Federal District. The city was planned and developed in 1956, in order to move the capital from Rio de Janeiro to a more central location. Due to its political position, the city serves as headquarter to many research institutes and governmental organizations. Besides being the political center, Brasília is an important economic center. Industries connected with construction, food processing, and furnishings are important, as are those associated with publishing, printing, and computer software.
Despite this administrative vocation, Brasília is also an important city if you are willing to study more about the family farming style of production in agriculture. In the federal capital, many institutes and NGOs, designed to defend and promote the rights of this group of producers, are based. Here, participants will have the chance to talk with those groups, as well as observing their works in practice.
MINAS GERAIS
Minas Gerais is one of the 26 states of Brazil. It ranks as the second most populous, the third by gross domestic product (GDP), and the fourth largest by area in the country. The state's capital and largest city, Belo Horizonte, is a major urban and finance center in Latin America. The State is a major producer of milk, coffee and other agricultural commodities, as well as minerals. In fact, with more than one million hectares planted, Minas Gerais produces more than 50% of the Brazilian coffee crop. As the state's main agribusiness export commodity, coffee is sold to over 60 countries worldwide.
The production of commodities in the state is not only an economical factor, but a cultural tradition as well. With a well-established consumer market and productive chain, the industry needs to develop innovative means to meet the challenges imposed on the growth of consumption. Our program aims to give the participants an overview of this sector, promoting contact between students and producers, as well as with researchers and other actors of this process that is taking place in the state right now.