Avaliação socioeconômica e ambiental da agricultura urbana e periurbana na Amazônia: o caso da Região Metropolitana de Belém

Abstract

This dissertation assesses urban residents' perceptions of Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture (UPA) in the Belém Metropolitan Region (RMB/PA), with regard to environmental sustainability, food security, and social well-being, considering the benefits provided by urban ecosystem services. UPA in the RMB/PA is characterized by a diversity of production systems, ranging from productive backyards to community gardens and agroforestry systems. It is, therefore, a multifunctional option that goes beyond food production and security, being relevant for the provision of essential ecosystem services to human beings. The case study adopted a triangulated method. The qualitative approach used semi-structured interviews, while the quantitative approach employed Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) to construct the Sociobioeconomic Sustainability Indicators of Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture (ISBE-UPA). The study adapted the hedonic pricing method to the context of urban agriculture, applying it to assess how specific attributes of agricultural products—such as production method (organic or conventional), local origin, use of sustainable practices, and the social impact of production—influence consumers' willingness to pay for these products. The results corroborate the hypothesis that the RMB population recognizes the benefits of UPA for environmental sustainability, food security, and social well-being. The data also indicate a greater willingness to pay for horticultural products, with this perception being related to sociodemographic characteristics such as age, education, gender, and income. Furthermore, the variables "sociobioeconomic value" and "inclusive and sustainable value chain" explained 84.51% of the data variance. The sociobioeconomic sustainability index, generated from these variables, allowed the definition of three market niches—high, medium, and low— differentiated based on income, education, female participation, and the economic, social, and environmental drivers of sustainable development. The group of consumers with high ISBEAUP, characterized by high income, high education levels, and female predominance, represents a strategic market niche for family producers and extractive producers in the AUP. The DAP+ model allowed us to estimate the socio-bioeconomic hedonic price of AUP products, classifying it into three levels based on the respondents' perceptions. The high level was recorded as 26.67% above market prices; the medium level, 18.36%; and the low level, 10.06% above market prices. The conclusion is that these values are consistent with the market niches defined by the AUP socio-bioeconomic sustainability index in the RMB, revealing that consumers are willing to pay a premium for products from urban and peri-urban agriculture, provided they are aligned with sustainability principles and value ecosystem services. The study identified significant potential among consumers with high ISBE-AUP. Based on this demand, we propose the creation of a program to encourage Urban and Peri-urban Agriculture in the RMB, with the objective of fostering the development of market niches aimed at this audience, which values products with attributes of quality, sustainability and positive social impact, demonstrating interest in healthy foods, produced responsibly and that contribute to local development.