INSTITUTIONALIZATION AND LEGISLATION OF ORGANIC PRODUCTION IN BRAZIL, AND HOW NEW REGULATIONS ARE IMPACTING FARMERS

Regulation and certification in organic production systems are needed to guarantee the quality of organic products around the world. This study aims to understand the new provisions established by the most recent technical regulation for organic production systems, Ordinance 52/2021, and to assess the main implications of the new regulation for farmers. Starting from 1994, the debate for regulating organic agriculture in Brazil was officially recognized in May 1999. Still, only in 2003, when Law 10,831 was instituted, the country reached an effective milestone on organic production, both internally and externally. Since the regulation, the legislation has undergone many modifications, constantly reviewing and adjusting. The current study examined the institutionalization of organic production in Brazil and how the current regulations can be used as a reference for those interested in this sector. The recent update of Organic legislation had a direct impact on farmers because, among other points, it restricted the use of cultivation on the ground and the use of conventional seedlings and seeds. A case study on the production of strawberries and edible mushrooms in an organic system is presented and discussed. Also, we discussed how the next legislation updates can incorporate scientific and technical information to improve agroecosystem sustainability and the quality of organic products. Keywords: organic certification; organic farming; agroecology; organic products; organic strawberry.