Empresa Natura S.A, comunidades rurais e o uso de recursos naturais na Amazônia: uma análise “do caso priprioca” (Cyperus articulatus L.) no Estado do Pará

Abstract

The overall goal of this paper is to discuss and analyze the social, environmental and economic potential impacts of the comercial relationship/partnership between biocosmetic company and rural communities that cultivate priprioca (Cyperus articulatus L.) in the state of Pará. The analysis is based on a discursive construction of agriculturists involved in the project and on content analysis of Company Natura’s annual institutional reports too. For this, it was also necessary, through specific objectives, show the biocosmetic company's history, its relationship with the Amazonian biodiversity, characterize the communities that trade priprioca, analyze trade relations between biocosmetic company and rural communities and to expose how these discourse / operationalize key concepts such as sustainable development, social equity, fair trade, and ultimately, investigate the role of mediators in the relationship between company / community, namely the State, universities / research institutions and non-governmental organizations. The methodology consisted in the use of a questionnaire with key actors in the communities that are related with biocosmetic companies, especially those which trade priprioca in the state of Pará. In addition, secondary data and direct observation were used too. The research used content analysis, case study, techniques such as documental analysis and theoretical framework through an extensive literature review about the topic in question, aiming to provide the construction of a theoretical framework to enable the discussion of the subject. The results demonstrate that the company was organized internally in its vision and goals, around the theme of sustainable development, but one verified a lot of paradoxes between the company discourse and its business practice, which in many instances was unilateral. The project priprioca also did not encourage social capital in communities. Finally, communities are giving up activities that ensure their food security and the company, despite the discourse can not operationalize the concept of sustainable development.