BRAZIL

Abstract and Main Features

Institui o Plano Nacional de Agroecologia e Produção Orgânica – the National Plan for Agroecology and Organic Production (PLANAPO) in English – was issued through a 2024 ordinance based on the 2012 Federal Decree No 7,794.  It marks a pivotal commitment to agroecological and organic agriculture, sovereignty, and ecological resilience. The 2012 Decree establishes the National Policy on Agroecology and Organic Production (PNAPO) setting guiding principles for integrating agroecological practices across government and society. The 2024 Ordinance operationalizes this vision through the National Plan for Agroecology and Organic Production (PLANAPO), a multi-year framework detailing concrete projects, actions, targets, and intersectoral collaboration for the fulfillment of this vision. Together, they aim to promote healthy food systems, protect biodiversity, and empower rural communities while also addressing climate change. This strategy reflects Brazil’s commitment and leadership in aligning agricultural transformation with social justice and environmental stewardship. 

Some of the main features of this National Plan include: 

• Cross-sectoral approach integrating multiple ministries and sectors. 
• Promotion of a gradual shift from conventional to agroecological systems that promote social justice and ensure sustainability. 
• Focus on ethnic communities, traditional knowledge, and community seeds. 
• Broaden opportunities for building agroecological knowledge and raise public awareness about the societal benefits of agroecology. 
• Reduction of the impact of pesticides by promoting the use of bio-inputs and accelerating the transition to ecosystem-based production processes. 
• Strengthen socio-biodiversity and sustainable use of natural resources. 
• Contribute to food and nutrition, security, and sovereignty through the availability of healthy food. 
• Support climate change adaptation and mitigation and environmental conservation. 
• Promotion of agroecology as a public health strategy. 

Objectives 

The seven objectives of this National Plan are: 

1. Expand and strengthen organic and agroecological production, as well as promote socio-biodiversity, with special attention to guaranteeing the human right to healthy and adequate food. 
2. Promote, expand, and consolidate social, cultural, and political processes for access, management, use, and conservation of agrobiodiversity and nature. 
3. Expand the capacity to build and socialize knowledge about agroecology, organic production, and socio-biodiversity. 
4. Strengthen and expand the consumption and commercialization of organic, agroecological, and socio-biodiversity foods and products in public procurement and private markets. 
5. Guarantee access to land and socio-environmentally protected territories as a condition for socio-productive inclusion for indigenous peoples, traditional peoples and communities, and family farmers. 
6. Promote the production and recognition of sociocultural identity and enable public policies for socio-productive inclusion for indigenous peoples, traditional peoples and communities, and family farmers 
7. Articulate policies, knowledge, and practices of health care and surveillance, strengthening agroecology as a strategy for promoting human health and sustainable territories. 

Key Target Groups  

This strategy considers different key target groups as a central social pillar to be included in this plan. Some of the groups explicitly identified in this plan are: Indigenous peoples, quilombola communities, women and youth (in particular, rural youth). 

Expected Results 

The strategy is expected to deliver the following outcomes: 

• Increased number of farms transitioning to agroecological and organic systems. 
• Establishment of a national monitoring and evaluation system to track progress on agroecology indicators. 
• Increased certification of organic and socio-biodiversity products. 
• Increased number of sustainable aquaculture units. 
• Reduction of pesticides. 
• Promotion of the reforestation of degraded areas. 
• Establishment of mechanisms for the implementation and integration of convergent public policies. 

National Plan Development Process 

Brazil’s strategy was created through a participatory process that included both government representatives and civil society. Indeed, to elaborate the National Plan, the National Commission for Agroecology and Organic Production (CNAPO) was created to guarantee civil society and other stakeholders’ involvement in drafting the plan, under the overall guidance and coordination of an interministerial chamber. 

Ministries and Stakeholders Involved in the Process 

• Government ministries such as the Ministry of Agrarian Development and Family Farming, the General Secretariat of the Presidency of the Republic, the Ministry of Social Development and Assistance, Family and Fight against Hunger, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, and the Ministry of Health among others. 
• Civil Society.

Implementation 

The implementation of Brazil’s National Plan is structured around seven thematic axes, each with specific objectives, initiatives, annual targets and responsible ministries and partners. Coordination and responsibility are mainly shared by government ministries and the Interministerial Chamber of Agroecology and Organic Production (CIAPO). However, implementation also relies on integrated public policies, regionalization, and collaboration with third-sector actors. 

Budget and Funding 

PLANAPO comprises 197 initiatives managed by 14 ministries and 7 agencies. The funding for these actions is tied to each participating Ministry’s Budget Law, Multi-Year Plan, and extra-budgetary sources. Consequently, budget allocations are subject to the Annual Budget Law, which is submitted to the legislative branch. 

N.B. This summary was reviewed by Brazil’s Ministry of Agrarian Development (MDA)

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Image Credit: Instituto Fronteiras do Desenvolvimento