Impactos da inovação e suas limitações na cadeia agroindustrial da soja no município de Rondon do Pará (PA)

Abstract

The present research proposes to understand if the agents involved in the innovation process of soybean agroindustrial chain in the city of Rondon do Pará (PA) are contributing to the development of innovations in the productive sector. In this way the study proposes to describe the actions carried out by the main agents of the production chain, to identify the possible barriers to the implementation of innovative actions by agents and producers, to analyze how the actions of the agents of the soybean production chain contributed to generate innovations for the sector and their sustainable development in such a scenario, besides as to investigate if there are interactions between the different agents of the productive chain. Thus, the research becomes useful since innovation plays an essential role for the economic development of the country, as well as for the sustainable development of the Brazilian agribusiness, promoting the development of products and techniques of sustainable management, increasing the profitability of the producers and guaranteeing the competitiveness of the sector in the international context. For this purpose, a qualitative study was carried out based on specific semi structured questionnaires, appliedthrough interviews with each innovation agent in the production chain, including suppliers of agricultural inputs and equipment, financial institutions, agricultural research institutions and universities, as well as the producers to investigate whether the actions developed for the sake of innovation by the agents are reflecting on the sustainable development of the productive sector in the municipal context. From then on, it is perceived that the main innovation actions are being developed in part by theefforts of private sector companies that are located in the neighboring cities, along with the support given by financial institutions through rural credit. However, although the innovations generated, the region has many barriers to the development of innovation in the sector, with the main barriers related about the support given by municipal and state policies in relation to its main productive chains, lack of incentives and resources for the area of research and development in the region, lack of infrastructure, bureaucracy regarding environmental documentation issues, few agricultural research institutions, and this fact is limiting the development of research, among many other factors that prevent this sector from contribute to the development of the state. However, it is identified that in order for the cities and the state to develop, it is necessary to recognize the regional dimension and its main productive chains directing actions and public policies that can solve the main difficulties encountered, as well as articulating strategies that minimize regional disparities in relation to investments in research, development and innovation, as well as contributing to thesustainable development of the productive chain in the state.