Organic Agriculture in Brazil: Organic Farming in the Federal District

Interview with Joe Valle, Founder of Fazenda Malunga and Congressman

In your point of view, which are the weaknesses of the Federal District? Which reforms would be necessary to stop the corruption and prevent people who only think of being re-elected but not of the future?

The Federal District Government needs to invest in management. The biggest problem today is a public management crisis, a professional management crisis in governments. A mandate is only 4 years and thus, we aren’t able to assemble a management project that is sufficient to attend all public demands in an efficient way.

I think that the Federal District Government needs to get long-term management projects. The 4 years mandate imposes few limitations on a management project, so what we need is to have a project that goes beyond the mandate. We, for example, are certifying our mandate with ISO9001, which has a certified and clear management, in search of efficiency in the representation of our citizens, which are those that are hopeful about our work.

You want Brasília to be sustainable, which means economic, social and environmental sustainability. If you look at Brasília today, do you think its path is leading toward sustainability? What are the potential problems Brasília could face in the future?

Our town has suffered a lot because of bad managements of the past. Economic development was sought without thinking about the social and environmental development. Such attitude created serious problems like, for example, garbage. We are the town that produces the biggest quantity of solid residues. We’re also the biggest water consumer which leads Brasília to a nearly unsustainable situation: we’re drilling for water so that people can drink, and that comes from a basic need which is education.

We are trying to achieve an economically viable town (which Brasília already is) accompanied with a social and environmental balance, so that people can come here, make money, and live well in a balanced environment.

Brasília is trying to diversify its economy, Brasília wants to attract high-tech companies, but there are also significant agricultural opportunities. You are personally involved in organic farming and organic products. Can you speak a little bit about the investment opportunities in the agriculture sector of Brasília and the whole Federal District? What are some of the problems that investors might face when investing in this region?

Brasília is our administrative town. People tend to forget that the surroundings of Brasília city centre are significant for their food production.

Although the Federal District is small we have a lot of technology and our beans productivity level is bigger than the world`s productivity levels.

Brasília has many credit lines for agricultural production; it has a very good soil and logistics and warehouse facilities which are also very good. There have been very attractive opportunities for the agricultural companies that have been settling down here in the Federal District.

There is an on-going debate whether the organic farming is sustainable. In your opinion, is the organic farming really sustainable?

The answer for a sustainable agriculture is one that makes people happier because they are well fed and healthy.

It’s possible to have a local production with high productivity, based in the technological question, in the process technology, in the knowledge that already exists, so that all grains, all vegetables, all fruits can completely expose all their genetic value.

Our climate with very well defined seasons is very good for organic farming. Brasília is already considered as the major vegetable producer in Brazil.

We have developed the technology for the organic farming and we’ve taught people to use it to produce in quantity and with quality. The growth in demand for organic products grows by more than 30% each year.

We still don’t have industrialized organic products here in Brasília. It`s a good opportunity though to do so – to industrialize the organic production of juices, beans, jams, flour, pasta, etc.

What is the major problem you are facing when it comes to the organic farming? Usually organic food is more expensive than the mass produced. Is it difficult to send the organic food to bigger supermarket (chains)?

The major problem we’re facing today is not the market. The market buys extremely well. People search for these type of products.

We have two major problems: we need people with knowledge to assist technically and also more research, so that we can optimize the development and production of the organic products.

Do you think people are aware enough of the organic products?

I can say that we have high demand on our organic products: people want to buy organic, beautifully presented and more expensive (but not too much).

Do you export these organic products?

I don’t have products to export. I sell everything here in Brasília.

If you look into the future, what is your vision for the organic farming and for your own company? Where would you like to be in 5 years’ time?

We are trying to search new specific markets like, for example, the market for children. We have a project to produce organic baby food.

We’re also going to launch another product line directed to single people. For this specific market we’re going to launch small salads with dressing (individual portions).

Brasília was built more than 50 years ago. Looking forward, what sort of role should Brasília play in the future – in another 50 years?

Brasília was established to develop the country’s inland areas and it played its role very well. Today, it’s a centre and it needs to be the centre of intelligence: Brasília needs to work on and promote Brazilian intelligence.

From here, we’ll have the politics of intelligence and we’re going to develop the long-term management projects.

In the next 50 years, Brasília will need to think in terms of strategy and make this intelligence work in every corner of the country.

Apart from being the 5th economy in the world, we really want to make Brazilians happy.