Title: Sustainability levels of horticultural farmers in southern Brazil: an evaluation based on the MESMIS framework

Authors: Eluane Parizotto Seidler; Tanice Andreatta; Luís Carlos Zucatto; Luiz Fernando Fritz Filho

Addresses: Graduate Program in Administration, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Av. Roraima, 1000, Camobi, 97105-900 – Santa Maria, RS, Brazil ' Department of Economic Sciences, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Independence Avenue, 3751, View Cheerful, 98300-000 – Palmeira das Missões, RS, Brazil ' Department of Business, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Independence Avenue, 3751, View Cheerful, 98300-000 – Palmeira das Missões, RS, Brazil ' Faculty of Economic, Administrative and Accounting Sciences, Universidade de Passo Fundo, Bairro São José, BR 285, 99001-970 – Passo Fundo, R, Brazil

Abstract: The theme of sustainability has become fundamental to link the debate of environmental, economic and social aspects. However, the incorporation of other dimensions, socio-cultural and institutional, contributes to reinforce the understanding that this theme has an interdisciplinary nature. Thus, frameworks and tools based on indicators have emerged to analyse the sustainability of agricultural systems. This context motivates the objective of this study to evaluate the sustainability levels of agricultural production units (APUs) of family horticultural farmers that are part of the Municipal Fair of Rural Producers of Passo Fundo, in Southern Brazil, using and adapting the Evaluation of Natural Resource Management Systems Incorporating Sustainability Indicators (MESMIS). Finally, it is emphasised that from the application of the MESMIS method adapted, the sustainability of APUs can be improved in the municipality of Passo Fundo, but also in other areas of the state, the country, Latin America and the world.

Keywords: sustainability dimensions; indicators; institutional; MESMIS; agricultural production; socio-cultural; Brazil; agricultural production units; APUs.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESD.2024.141830

International Journal of Environment and Sustainable Development, 2024 Vol.23 No.4, pp.367 - 386

Received: 10 Aug 2022
Accepted: 14 Aug 2023
Published online: 02 Oct 2024 *

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