Tesis por compendio / [ES] La agricultura a pequeña escala en América Central, región donde se esperan fuertes cambios en las temperaturas y patrones de lluvias, sostiene el empleo y la seguridad alimentaria de las familias rurales. La adaptación al cambio climático es, por ende, altamente prioritaria. Esta investigación analiza la vulnerabilidad al cambio climático y la capacidad adaptativa de los medios de vida agrícolas a pequeña escala en la región en dos niveles. El primer análisis usa información pública de municipios de cuatro países, mientras el segundo se basa en procesos participativos en cinco microcuencas de la vertiente del Pacífico. Esta investigación incluye también una evaluación de productos de información agroclimática para gestionar los impactos del cambio climático en la producción agrícola y la seguridad alimentaria en Guatemala. El primer análisis muestra, en primer lugar, que los municipios que están en zonas de frontera agrícola o propensas a la sequía tienden a tener menor capacidad adaptativa, en contraste con la capacidad adaptativa más alta de los que están cerca a zonas urbanas y rutas de comercio. En segundo lugar, muestra que los grupos de municipios con menos satisfacción de necesidades básicas tendieron también a tener menor desempeño en los indicadores de acceso a la innovación y su puesta en práctica. Por último, muestra que los grupos de municipios que más incentivos agrícolas han recibido no tienen necesariamente una mayor capacidad adaptativa. Los resultados sugieren que los proyectos y programas de adaptación al cambio climático en la región deben considerarse un espectro de estrategias, y que la metodología propuesta puede apoyar el establecimiento de prioridades geográficas y la identificación de estas estrategias. El segundo análisis muestra diferencias fundamentales entre diferentes medios de vida agrícolas, en especial en su capacidad adaptativa. Los capitales humano y social mostraron amplias diferencias entre medios de vida que tienen acceso a la tierra y el agua, y los que dependen del arriendo de la tierra y de la venta de mano de obra. Aunque en todos los sitios hay algún nivel de incentivos y asistencia técnica, estas ayudas no necesariamente responden a las necesidades de adaptación de las familias agricultoras. Las medidas de adaptación implementadas y propuestas incluyen medidas incrementales y transformacionales, y existe conciencia en las familias agricultoras de la importancia de fortalecer los capitales no físicos para la viabilidad y sostenibilidad de las medidas de adaptación, y no solo el capital natural y construido. Estos resultados confirman que los programas de adaptación deben considerar un espectro amplio de estrategias y las necesidades a nivel local para una mejor inversión de recursos. La evaluación de productos de información agroclimática muestra progresos en la gestión de la variabilidad del clima en Guatemala, pero también que los productos destinados a apoyar decisiones para gestión de la agricultura y la seguridad alimentaria a nivel local requieren cambios en las prácticas institucionales de compartir y producir información más útil y oportuna. Esta tesis intenta poner en valor diferentes fuentes de información y conocimiento para la adaptación al cambio climático, en una región donde es frecuente que se atribuya la falta de decisiones oportunas y objetivas a su ausencia y baja calidad. Las propuestas metodológicas tratan de identificar opciones para el mejor uso de los recursos disponibles y esfuerzos para apoyar la adaptación de la agricultura a pequeña escala en América Central. / [CA] L'agricultura a petita escala a Amèrica Central, una regió on s'esperen canvis bruscos de les temperatures i dels patrons de pluges, sosté l'ocupació i la seguretat alimentària de les famílies rurals. L'adaptació al canvi climàtic és, per tant, altament prioritària. Aquesta investigació analitza la vulnerabilitat front al canvi climàtic i la capacitat adaptativa dels mitjans de vida agrícoles a petita escala de la regió en dos nivells. La primera anàlisi usa informació pública de municipis de quatre països, mentre que la segona es basa en processos participatius en cinc microconques del vessant del Pacífic. Així mateix, aquesta investigació inclou una avaluació de productes d'informació agroclimàtica per tal de gestionar els impactes del canvi climàtic sobre la producció agrícola i la seguretat alimentària a Guatemala. La primera anàlisi mostra, en primer lloc, que els municipis de les zones de frontera agrícola o propenses a la sequera tendeixen a tindre menor capacitat adaptativa, tot contrastant amb la capacitat adaptativa més elevada d'aquells municipis que són a prop de zones urbanes i de rutes comercials. En segon lloc, trobem que els grups de municipis amb menys satisfacció de necessitats bàsiques van tendir també a obtenir resultats inferiors en els indicadors d'accés a la innovació i la seua aplicació. Per últim, observem que els grups de municipis que han rebut més incentius agrícoles no tenen necessàriament una major capacitat adaptativa. Els resultats suggereixen que els projectes i els programes d'adaptació al canvi climàtic a la regió han de considerar tot un espectre d'estratègies, i que la metodologia proposada pot donar suport a l'establiment de prioritats geogràfiques i la identificació d'aquestes estratègies. La segona anàlisi mostra diferències fonamentals entre diferents mitjans de vida agrícoles, sobretot pel que fa a la seua capacitat adaptativa. Els capitals humà i social van mostrar àmplies diferències, d'una banda, entre els mitjans de vida que tenen accés a la terra i a l'aigua i, de l'altra, aquells que depenen de l'arrendament de la terra i de la venda de mà d'obra. Malgrat que a tot arreu existeix algun nivell d'incentius i assistència tècnica, aquestes ajudes no responen necessàriament a les necessitats d'adaptació de les famílies agrícoles. Les mesures d'adaptació implementades i proposades inclouen mesures incrementals i transformacionals, i les famílies agrícoles són conscients de la importància d'enfortir els capitals no físics de cara a la viabilitat i la sostenibilitat de les mesures d'adaptació, i no sols el capital natural i construït. Aquests resultats confirmen que els programes d'adaptació han de considerar un espectre ampli d'estratègies d'adaptació i les necessitats en l'àmbit local, per tal d'aconseguir una millor inversió dels recursos. L'avaluació de productes d'informació agroclimàtica mostra progressos en la gestió de la variabilitat del clima a Guatemala, però també que els productes destinats a donar suport a decisions per a la gestió de l'agricultura i la seguretat alimentària en l'àmbit local requereixen canvis en les pràctiques institucionals a l'hora de compartir i de transferir informació més útil i oportuna. Aquesta tesi intenta posar en valor diferents fonts d'informació i de coneixement que faciliten l'adaptació al canvi climàtic, en una regió on és freqüent que s'atribuïsca la falta de decisions oportunes i objectives a la seua absència o baixa qualitat de les mateixes. Les propostes tracten d'identificar opcions que permeten millorar l'ús dels recursos disponibles i dels esforços per tal de donar suport a l'adaptació de l'agricultura a petita escala a Amèrica Central. / [EN] Smallholder agriculture in Central America, a region where marked changes in temperature and rainfall patterns are expected, sustains employment and food security for rural households. Adaptation to climate change is therefore a high priority. This research analyses the vulnerability to climate change and the adaptive capacity of small-scale agricultural livelihoods in the region at two levels. The first analysis uses public information from municipalities in four countries, while the second is based on participatory processes in five micro-watersheds on the Pacific slope. This research also includes the evaluation of agro-climatic information products that are intended to support the management of the impacts of climate change on agricultural production and food security in Guatemala. The first analysis shows, first, that municipalities that are in agricultural frontier or drought-prone areas tend to have lower adaptive capacity, in contrast to those that are close to urban areas and trade routes. Secondly, it shows that groups of municipalities with less satisfaction of basic needs also tended to perform less well on indicators of access to and implementation of innovation. Finally, it shows that groups of municipalities that have received more state agricultural incentives do not necessarily have higher adaptive capacity. The results suggest that climate change adaptation programs and projects in the region should consider a spectrum of adaptation strategies, and that the proposed methodology could support the geographic prioritisation and identification of these strategies. The second analysis showed fundamental differences between different agricultural livelihoods, especially in their adaptive capacity. Human and social capitals showed wide differences between livelihoods that have access to land and water, and those that rely on renting land and selling labour. While there was some level of incentives and technical assistance in all sites, there were also differences in access to this support, which do not necessarily respond to the adaptation needs of farming families. The adaptation measures implemented and proposed include incremental and transformational measures, and there is awareness among farming families of the importance of strengthening non-physical capital for the viability and sustainability of adaptation measures, and not only natural and built capital. These results confirm that adaptation programmes should consider a broad spectrum of adaptation strategies and needs at the local level for better investment of resources. The evaluation of agroclimatic information products shows progress in managing climate variability in Guatemala, but also that products aimed at supporting decisions for agriculture and food security management at the local level require changes in institutional practices to share and produce more useful information. This thesis attempts to highlight different sources of information and knowledge for climate change adaptation in a region where the lack of timely and objective decisions is often attributed to their absence or low quality. The methodological proposals seek to identify options for the best use of available resources and efforts to support adaptation in smallholder agriculture in Central America. / Bouroncle Seoane, CM. (2023). Vulnerabilidad y capacidad adaptativa de la agricultura a pequeña escala en América Central: brechas actuales y elementos para la gestión de información de sequías y otros fenómenos del cambio y variabilidad climática [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/199547 / Compendio

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O presente trabalho aborda as perspectivas de certificação que se abrem para a agricultura orgânica familiar, através dos processos alternativos de certificação, a certificação participativa em rede – CPR, e a certificação de grupo por auditoria externa. Os objetivos gerais do trabalho foram contribuir para um melhor entendimento sobre o potencial dos processos participativos na certificação de produtos orgânicos. Avaliar em que medida a certificação pode ser associada a um processo pedagógico, para os produtores familiares paulistas, no qual a possibilidade de fortalecimento do controle social pode levar à redução dos processos burocráticos no Sistema de Controle Interno - SCI. O objetivo específico foi verificar se o processo de certificação de grupo da APROVE, proposto pela AAOcert, baseado nas diretrizes da IFOAM, abre maiores possibilidades de construção de processos mais participativos para os produtores, tomando-se a CPR como embasamento para busca de um referencial teórico, por ser uma proposta construída com este propósito. O trabalho é orientado pela seguinte pergunta: é possível um sistema de certificação reconhecido internacionalmente, como a certificação de grupo por auditoria de terceira parte, construir uma participação mais efetiva do produtor, sem perder a qualidade exigida dos seus processos? A hipótese central é que a diretriz da IFOAM para a construção do Sistema de Controle Interno (SCI) permite considerar processos participativos e com controle social, desenvolvidos como processo pedagógico, a partir do Sistema de Avaliação de Risco (SAR). A segunda hipótese é que trabalhar com os grupos a partir da avaliação dos riscos a que estão sujeitos proporciona aos agricultores melhor compreensão sobre o que é o sistema de controle interno que precisam desenvolver. A pesquisa foi realizada em três momentos, sendo o último uma intervenção com a introdução da diretriz da IFOAM para teste da hipótese. Os resultados da pesquisa evidenciaram que a introdução das diretrizes da IFOAM permitiu processos mais participativos e de controle social, que, ao mesmo tempo são adequados pedagogicamente ao grupo. Assim, é recomendável que os formuladores de políticas públicas que atuam na área de inclusão da agricultura familiar, na agricultura orgânica, levem em consideração as diretrizes da IFOAM para a certificação de grupo. / The present paper approaches the perspectives of certification for the organic family farmer agriculture, through alternative certification processes, the participatory certification, and the third party smallholder group certification. The main goal of this paper is to contribute to a better understanding about the potential of the alternative organic certification processes. To assess so far as the certification can be associated to a pedagogical process for the Paulista family farmers in which the possibility of strengthening the social control can lead to a bureaucratic process reduction in the Internal Control System – ICS. The specific goal is to verify if the APROVE’s small holder group certification proposed by the AAOcert based on the IFOAM basic standards opens possibilities of building more participatory processes for the producers, taken the CPR as a basis for seeking a theoretical reference, to be a proposal built with this purpose. The paper is led by the following question: is it possible to a certification system recognized internationally, as the third party small holder group certification, to build a more effective participation from the producer, without losing the quality demanded by its processes? The central hypothesis is that the IFOAM basic standards opens perspectives for more participatory processes and with social control and at the same time they best fit to the pedagogical process feature to be introduced with the producers with third party certification today. The research was achieved in three moments, however, the last one with an intervention with the introduction of the IFOAM basic standard to test the hypothesis. The results of the research proved that the IFOAM basic standards introduction allowed more participatory and social control processes and at the same time pedagogically suitable to the group. So, it is advisable for the public policy makers who work in the family farmer agriculture inclusion in the organic agriculture take into account the IFOAM basic standards for group certification.

Afrikanisches einheimisches Gemüse (AIVs) hat in letzter Zeit in ganz Afrika südlich der Sahara (SSA) aufgrund des zunehmenden Bewusstseins für deren Ernährung und gesundheitlichen Nutzen größere Anerkennung gefunden. Dieses wachsende Verbraucherbewusstsein hat zu einer erhöhten Nachfrage nach AIV-Verbrauch geführt, was wiederum zu einer verstärkten Produktion von AIV geführt hat. Das Ziel dieser Arbeit war es daher, das Ausmaß und die zugrunde liegenden Faktoren zu bewerten, die Einfluss auf die Einführung nachhaltiger Intensivierungsmethoden (SIPs) haben (Einsatz von verbesserten Bewässerungssystemen, integrierte Bodendüngung, organischer Dünger und AIV - Diversifizierung) (2) Die Übernahme von SIP in Bezug auf den Lebensunterhalt der Landwirte und (3) eine Bewertung der wirtschaftlichen Leistung und der ökologischen Ergebnisse von Bodendüngungsstrategien, um Bodenbewirtschaftungsstrategien zu empfehlen, die die Produktion, den Lebensunterhalt und den Klimaschutz optimieren. Die Ergebnisse zeigten, dass der Einsatz von organischem Dünger und die Diversifizierung der AIV in ländlichen und stadtnahen Produktionsgebieten weit verbreitet waren, wohingegen verbesserte Bewässerungssysteme und ein integriertes Bodenfruchtbarkeitsmanagement eher gering waren und in ländlichen Gebieten sogar erheblich niedriger waren als in Stadtrandgebieten. Darüber hinaus wurden Komplementaritäten und Substituierbarkeiten zwischen SIPs identifiziert, was darauf hindeutet, dass eine Änderung der Richtlinien, die sich auf ein einzelnes SIP auswirkt, Auswirkungen auf andere verwandte SIPs haben kann. Die Ergebnisse der Determinanten von SIP zeigen, dass die Marktintegration, das Haushaltseinkommen und die städtischen Gemüseproduktionsumgebungen die Haupttreiber der Akzeptanz waren. Darüber hinaus erhöht die Einführung von SIPs sowohl das Gesamteinkommen der Haushalte als auch die Ernte. Darüber hinaus optimiert die integrierte Strategie zur Bodenfruchtbarkeit die Wirtschafts- und Umweltleistung. Daher ist ein integriertes Bodenfruchtbarkeitsmanagement ein möglicher Weg, um die AIV-Produktion nachhaltig zu intensivieren. / African indigenous vegetables (AIVs) have recently gained greater recognition across sub-Sahara Africa (SSA) because of increased awareness on their nutrition and health benefits. This rising consumer consciousness has caused an increase in demand for consumption of AIVs, which in turn has led to increased intensification of AIV production. The aim of this thesis was therefore, to evaluate the level and underlying factors influencing the adoption of sustainable intensification practices (SIPs) (use of improved irrigation systems, integrated soil fertilisation, organic manure and AIV diversification), (2) examined the impacts of SIP adoption on farmers’ livelihoods, and (3) assessed economic performance and ecological outcomes of soil fertilisation strategies in order to recommend soil fertility management strategies which optimises production, livelihood and climate trade-offs. The results revealed that use of organic manure and AIV diversification were widely adopted across rural and peri-urban production areas while improved irrigation systems and integrated soil fertility management was rather low, and even significantly lower in rural areas than in peri-urban areas. Moreover, complementarities and substitutabilities between SIPs were also identified indicating that a change in policy affecting a single SIP might have a spill over effect on other related SIPs. The results of determinants of SIPs shows that market integration, household income and peri-urban vegetable production environments were the major drivers of adoption. In addition, adoption of SIPs significantly increases both total household and crop incomes. Furthermore, integrated soil fertility manage strategy optimises economic and environmental performance. Therefore, integrated soil fertility management is a potential pathway to sustainably intensify AIV production.

Die Ernährungssicherung der Bevölkerung im ländlichen Raum in Sub-Sahara Afrika ist eine der dringlichsten Herausforderungen unserer Zeit. Der Großteil der Bevölkerung ist von der eigenen landwirtschaftlichen Produktion für die Ernährung und die Existenzsicherung abhängig. Eine nachhaltige Entwicklung kleinbäuerlicher Landwirtschaft ist daher eine Grundvoraussetzung für Ernährungssicherung und Armutsbekämpfung. Eine Vielzahl von Entwicklungsmaßnahmen zielt auf die Verbesserung der Agrarproduktion von Kleinbauern und Kleinbäuerinnen ab, um die Ernährungssituation zu verbessern. Die Konsequenzen dieser Entwicklungsmaßnahmen sind oft vielfältig; neben gewollten, intendierten Wirkungen, können sich Entwicklungsmaßnahmen auch negativ auswirken. Daher ist es essentiell ein ex-ante impact assessment vor der Umsetzung durchzuführen, um eventuelle negative Auswirkungen frühzeitig zu identifizieren und die geplanten Maßnahmen dementsprechend anzupassen. Der theoretische Diskurs hinsichtlich der Charakteristika von ex-ante sustainability impact assessment ist sehr umfassend erarbeitet. Hier werden vor allem die gleichwertige Integration der drei Nachhaltigkeitsdimensionen (Soziales, Wirtschaft und Ökologie), die aktive Partizipation verschiedener Stakeholder auf unterschiedlichen Ebenen und der Austausch- und Lernprozess in den Mittelpunkt gerückt. In der Praxis wird die lokale Bevölkerung hingegen selten in ex-ante Wirkungsanalysen von geplanten Entwicklungsmaßnahmen involviert. Auch wenn in sustainability impact assessment ein interaktiver Einbezug der lokalen Bevölkerung unterstrichen wird, existieren kaum einfach anwendbare methodische Vorgehensweisen, um dies durchzuführen. Zudem gibt es bisher nur wenige Fallstudien, die das Einbeziehen von lokalen Stakeholdern beschreiben, systematisch analysieren und den Mehrwert für die Planung von landwirtschaftlichen Entwicklungsmaßnahmen herausstellen. Die vorliegende Arbeit hat zum Ziel diese Forschungslücke zu schließen. Im Rahmen der Dissertation wurde ein methodischer Ansatz für ein ex-ante sustainability impact assessment für die Anwendung mit der lokalen Bevölkerung entwickelt. Diese Methode wurde angewendet, um die positiven und negativen Auswirkungen von geplanten landwirtschaftlichen Entwicklungsmaßnahmen aus Sicht der Kleinbauern und Kleinbäuerinnen zu analysieren. Die Forschung wurde in vier Dörfern im semi-ariden Dodoma und im semi-humiden Morogoro in Tansania durchgeführt. / Food security remains a major challenge in Sub-Saharan Africa. Sustainable agricultural development is fundamental for food security and poverty alleviation, notably in developing countries. Many development initiatives focus on enhancing smallholder production because the majority of poor people in developing countries live in rural areas where agriculture is the main source of livelihood. However, the consequences of these development initiatives are often diverse, having intended effects as well as unforeseen adverse impacts. Therefore, there is a need to assess development strategies/projects prior to their implementation to reduce the risk of possible negative impacts and to allow for adjustments, if necessary. This can be achieved by applying ex-ante sustainability impact assessment. The theoretical discourse on ex-ante sustainability impact assessment is comprehensive, emphasising the equal integration of all three sustainability dimensions (social, economic and environmental), the active involvement of stakeholders at every step of the assessment process and a focus on exchange and learning among the involved stakeholders. In practice, local communities are rarely involved in ex-ante impact assessment. Moreover, despite a strong emphasis on their involvement in theory, there remains a lack of easily applicable frameworks for sustainability impact assessment. Hence, there are only few concrete case studies having analysed the value added by applying sustainability impact assessment with local stakeholders and its benefit for planning agricultural measures to enhance food security and sustainable development. This PhD thesis closes the gap by developing and applying an ex-ante impact assessment approach that is based upon the Framework for Participatory Impact Assessment (FoPIA) method and is applicable at small-scale farmer level in the development context. The framework was applied to assess the sustainability of upgrading strategies along the farmers’ food value chains to improve food security in rural Tanzania at four contrasting case study villages in the semi-arid Dodoma Region and the semi-humid Morogoro Region.

Magister Philosophiae - MPhil (LAS) (Land and Agrarian Studies) / Government's decision to devolve irrigation management to farmers was partly influenced by international policy imperatives, which were propounded mainly by institutions associated with the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and the inability by the government to continue funding operation and maintenance costs. The central question of the study is to understand the effects of Irrigation Management Transfer (IMT) on productivity, operation and maintenance in the Mamina Irrigation Scheme. Interviews with various primary and secondary stakeholders that included the irrigators, local political leadership and locally-based agriculture extension officers were carried out. The interviews were aimed at getting an insight on land tenure, participation and representation of women, water and electricity supply system and pricing, effects of irrigation management arrangements on equity and productivity, understanding the irrigators' food security status, operation and maintenance arrangement after Irrigation Management Transfer (IMT). Findings of this study suggest that the existing governance arrangements have partly led to low crop productivity, increased water and electricity bill arrears, poor water distribution, change to uneconomic plot sizes, unsustainable increase in the number of irrigators, failure to organise for operation and maintenance. The key factors influencing the poor performance include poor collaboration, pumping system that utilised more electricity, inability of the irrigators to replace leaky pipes, failure of the irrigators to contribute towards electricity and water bills, failure of the irrigators to contribute towards operation and maintenance. The study identified nine challenges that affected the success of IMT. The challenges that lay at the heart of Mamina irrigation scheme were mainly caused by the poor irrigation technology design, pricing structure of electricity, water permit system, inequalities in water distribution, low gender participation and representation, non-availability of formal markets for certain crops, food insecurity, plot alloction and land disputes. Poverty analysis has shown that the irrigators' ability to escape from poverty or food insecurity is critically dependent upon their access to assets. Different assets are required to achieve different livelihood outcomes. The cycle of accumulation of utility bill arrears continued even after devolution because the same defective irrigation infrastructure was transferred to the irrigators. In the case of Mamina irrigation scheme, modernisation of the scheme was required to achieve different livelihood outcomes, but because this did not happen the recurrent utility bill arrears, low productivity and food insecurity continued to be a very serious challenge even after IMT.

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O presente trabalho aborda as perspectivas de certificação que se abrem para a agricultura orgânica familiar, através dos processos alternativos de certificação, a certificação participativa em rede – CPR, e a certificação de grupo por auditoria externa. Os objetivos gerais do trabalho foram contribuir para um melhor entendimento sobre o potencial dos processos participativos na certificação de produtos orgânicos. Avaliar em que medida a certificação pode ser associada a um processo pedagógico, para os produtores familiares paulistas, no qual a possibilidade de fortalecimento do controle social pode levar à redução dos processos burocráticos no Sistema de Controle Interno - SCI. O objetivo específico foi verificar se o processo de certificação de grupo da APROVE, proposto pela AAOcert, baseado nas diretrizes da IFOAM, abre maiores possibilidades de construção de processos mais participativos para os produtores, tomando-se a CPR como embasamento para busca de um referencial teórico, por ser uma proposta construída com este propósito. O trabalho é orientado pela seguinte pergunta: é possível um sistema de certificação reconhecido internacionalmente, como a certificação de grupo por auditoria de terceira parte, construir uma participação mais efetiva do produtor, sem perder a qualidade exigida dos seus processos? A hipótese central é que a diretriz da IFOAM para a construção do Sistema de Controle Interno (SCI) permite considerar processos participativos e com controle social, desenvolvidos como processo pedagógico, a partir do Sistema de Avaliação de Risco (SAR). A segunda hipótese é que trabalhar com os grupos a partir da avaliação dos riscos a que estão sujeitos proporciona aos agricultores melhor compreensão sobre o que é o sistema de controle interno que precisam desenvolver. A pesquisa foi realizada em três momentos, sendo o último uma intervenção com a introdução da diretriz da IFOAM para teste da hipótese. Os resultados da pesquisa evidenciaram que a introdução das diretrizes da IFOAM permitiu processos mais participativos e de controle social, que, ao mesmo tempo são adequados pedagogicamente ao grupo. Assim, é recomendável que os formuladores de políticas públicas que atuam na área de inclusão da agricultura familiar, na agricultura orgânica, levem em consideração as diretrizes da IFOAM para a certificação de grupo. / The present paper approaches the perspectives of certification for the organic family farmer agriculture, through alternative certification processes, the participatory certification, and the third party smallholder group certification. The main goal of this paper is to contribute to a better understanding about the potential of the alternative organic certification processes. To assess so far as the certification can be associated to a pedagogical process for the Paulista family farmers in which the possibility of strengthening the social control can lead to a bureaucratic process reduction in the Internal Control System – ICS. The specific goal is to verify if the APROVE’s small holder group certification proposed by the AAOcert based on the IFOAM basic standards opens possibilities of building more participatory processes for the producers, taken the CPR as a basis for seeking a theoretical reference, to be a proposal built with this purpose. The paper is led by the following question: is it possible to a certification system recognized internationally, as the third party small holder group certification, to build a more effective participation from the producer, without losing the quality demanded by its processes? The central hypothesis is that the IFOAM basic standards opens perspectives for more participatory processes and with social control and at the same time they best fit to the pedagogical process feature to be introduced with the producers with third party certification today. The research was achieved in three moments, however, the last one with an intervention with the introduction of the IFOAM basic standard to test the hypothesis. The results of the research proved that the IFOAM basic standards introduction allowed more participatory and social control processes and at the same time pedagogically suitable to the group. So, it is advisable for the public policy makers who work in the family farmer agriculture inclusion in the organic agriculture take into account the IFOAM basic standards for group certification.