The spread of contract farming in South Africa in recent years has provoked an ideological debate in literature. Linking small-scale vegetable farmers with lucrative agricultural markets through agribusiness value chains is seen as one of the foremost emerging agricultural practices to develop the subsistence farming sector into a mainstream economic sector – thereby revitalising the rural economy and alleviating poverty levels in the developing rural areas of South Africa. However, the challenges agribusiness and small-scale farmers experience in contract farming engagement and the prospects for enhancing the inclusion of small-scale farmers into modern value chains remain open to debate – two decades after transition to democracy. Yet the factors and mechanisms influencing the effective application of contract farming in the transition to commercial farming by small-scale farmers have not been thoroughly explored in South African research. Despite the efforts and the substantial investments made and the various policies and initiatives instigated to fast-track the linkages of small-scale farmers into high-value markets, the success stories of previously disadvantaged farmers operating in commercial agri-food chains are rare. Given the millions of small-scale farmers in former homelands alone, the negligible number of small-scale farmers successfully operating in commercial agri-food chains shows that the objectives to enable small-scale farmers to improve their livelihoods through participation in commercial agri-food chains have not yet been met. The broad objectives of the study were therefore to investigate the agribusiness challenges inherent in contract farming and the conditions and incentives required by agribusiness firms to engage small-scale vegetable farmers in contract farming programmes. Furthermore, the study examined the role played by the South African government to reduce the high transaction costs incurred by agribusinesses when engaging small-scale farmers in contractual arrangements. The Amathole and Sarah Baartman (formerly Cacadu) district municipalities in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa were chosen as the composite survey area for this study. A predominantly qualitative research approach was applied to gather data on the phenomena under study. The following methodologies and research instruments and tools were selected. Firstly – as the secondary component of the research – a systematic review of literature to date was conducted to guide the empirical research and primary methodology. Secondly, the empirical component of the study comprised a questionnaire survey, unstructured interviews and focus group discussions. The questionnaire survey was used to collect data from the agribusiness firms in the area surveyed concerning the following aspects: the significant determinants of contract farming, the incentives required by the agribusiness firms to engage small-scale vegetable farmers in their contract farming programmes and the challenges faced by agribusiness firms in their interaction with small-scale farmers in contractual arrangements. Unstructured interviews were used to gather data from officials at each of the three levels of government – the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform nationally, Department of Agriculture and Land Reform provincially and (at local government level) two district municipalities – on the role played by government to reduce the high transaction costs incurred by agri-firms when procuring agricultural raw materials from small-scale vegetable farmers. Focus group discussions were conducted with small-scale farmers regarding their perspective on working with agribusiness firms and to establish the distinguishing characteristics of small-scale farmers in the area surveyed. Relevant policy documents collected from two of the three representative groups of the study population, i.e. agribusiness personnel and government officials, provided the essential context. The study revealed a limited number of contract farming business linkages between small-scale vegetable farmers and agribusiness firms in the survey area. Those that do exist are problematic to both the agribusiness firms and the small-scale farmers. It emerged that the contract farming environment in the area surveyed is highly polarised and characterised by a fundamental conflict of interest between agribusiness and farmer. Among the divergent key factors inhibiting contract farming engagement were a lack in terms of quality seeds, trust, entrepreneurial skills and formal contract agreements. Asset endowment (both land and non-land assets) was found to be significant pre-selection determinants in the farmer’s capacity to be contracted. Access to innovative technology, as well as government incentives such as production inputs, were found to be critical to agribusiness firms to engage smallscale farmers in their contract farming programmes. Government assistance in terms of high transaction costs to agribusiness firms working with large groups of small-scale farmers was found to be essential but inadequate under current policy. This impacts directly on the effectiveness and promotion of contract farming. Furthermore, the current results corroborate the findings of numerous South African studies in the vast body of worldwide research. Firstly, lack of land and non-land assets continue to be major impediments to the direct participa-tion of small-scale farmers in contract farming programmes and, secondly, the transaction and market information costs incurred by agribusiness prevent the participation of less endowed farmers in contract farming programmes. Conducted within the interpretivist paradigm, the explorative research identified wide-ranging challenges in the relationship between agri-business and small-scale farmers which directly impact the effective-ness of contract farming as a development and agrarian reform strategy. Despite their problematic relationship, however, agribusiness and small-scale contract farmers were in agreement that the government needs to expand its support for agri-firms to incentivise greater numbers of small-scale farmers having the opportunity to achieve commercial status through contract farming. The study therefore recommends a collaborative partnership between private firms and government, with state support through revised policies and development programmes. These amendments are crucial to enhancing the engagement of small-scale vegetable farmers in lucrative agri-food chains.

This study assesses the effects of an agribusiness collapse, on the contracted growers and their surrounding communities in Lusaka Province, Zambia. In 2004, Agriflora Limited, a Trans-Zambezi Industries Limited (TZI) agribusiness in Lusaka Zambia was sold off. Agriflora Limited was one ofthe largest fresh vegetable exporters in Africa. It had contracted almost 500 small-scale farmers with 1-4 hectares of land within 50 km radius of Lusaka to grow vegetables for export. Makeni Cooperative Society was one of the targeted groups of growers. It grew baby corn, mangetout peas, and sugar snap and fine beans for export. The case study relied on both primary and secondary data. I undertook two months of ethnographic fieldwork utilising observations, in-depth interviews and informal discussions with some community members in Makeni. I also reviewed the literature on contract farming schemes (documenting both the negative and positive effects for growers) in developing countries. The case study showed that the impact of the collapse of Agriflora on the growers has been severe indeed; there has been a significant reduction in production with only a few farmers producing for export. Those that are producing are limited to one crop, baby corn. The effect on the local labour market (farm workers) has been quite drastic with a drop in employment. A new agribusiness company, York Farm, was sourced by the government for the contract growers of Makeni. York Farm has signed a procurement contract under which only sale and purchase conditions are specified. This means that, services such as extension services are no longer provided. It was also found that despite the price for baby corn at York Farm being better than what Agriflora used to offer the farmers, farmers are not producing peas which have a higher turnover than baby corn because York farm does not buy peas from the farmers. However, the farmers are hopeful that they will soon start producing peas after they pass the Eurep gap requirements. Furthermore, the farmers are still interested in contract farming as they are convinced that it can lead to higher farm incomes. While the neoliberal critique of the pre- Structural Adjustment agricultural policies was based on the need to improve rural farming income and productivity, my study shows that the contract farmers are not the "traditional" peasant farmers but retired civil servants or former public sector employees who lost their jobs during the contraction of the sector. In conclusion, my field work revealed that the collapse of Agriflora has had negative effects on the growers of MCS in terms a significant decrease in crop production, decline in farmer income, lack of technical assistance such as extension services, transportation problems (to take produce to the new market-York Farm) and reduced contraction in employment opportunities for farm workers.

This essay gives an analysis of the profile of the family agricultural industries which are working nowadays in the region of Sustainable Development of Fourth Colony Partnership (CONDESUS). The CONDESUS is formed for nine cities and it is located in the central region of RS state. In this dissertation the New Institutional Economy (NIE) is used as a theoretical reference. The aims of the work are observe the influence of institutional, organizational and competitive environments on the activities developed for the family agricultural industries. From the results it is possible to observe the predominance of governance structures through market and a low level of legal certifications of establishments in relation to the institutional environment. The organization attempts of the family agricultural industries in a cooperative network it is also possible to observe. The products differentiation and a direct sale are strategies of growth and marketing adopted by the family agricultural industries. These industries represent an important strategy of development for the mentioned above region specially for the possibility of generation of work and income to the families. / Este trabalho apresenta uma análise do perfil das agroindústrias familiares atualmente em funcionamento na região do Consórcio de Desenvolvimento Sustentável da Quarta Colônia (CONDESUS). O CONDESUS se situa na região central do RS e é formado por nove municípios. A presente pesquisa tem como referencial teórico a Nova Economia Institucional (NEI) e visa observar de forma sistêmica a influência dos ambientes institucional, organizacional e competitivo sobre as atividades desenvolvidas pelas agroindústrias familiares. A partir dos resultados obtidos pode-se observar a predominância de estruturas de governança via mercado e um baixo nível de certificação legal dos estabelecimentos nas questões relacionadas ao ambiente institucional. Percebe-se também tentativas de organização das agroindústrias familiares na forma de rede de cooperação. Entre as estratégias de crescimento e marketing adotadas pelas agroindústrias familiares salientam-se a diferenciação dos produtos e a venda direta. As agroindústrias familiares representam uma importante estratégia de desenvolvimento para a região, principalmente no que se refere à possibilidade de geração de trabalho e renda para as famílias.

Few sectors of the economy are as influential to the environment and are as susceptible to the influence of environmental changes as agriculture. This dissertation contains three chapters that examine agriculture as the primary interface at which human and nature interact. Primarily, I explore how policy support for financial risk management tools can have substantial impact on agricultural production choices via moral hazard and selection problems. While mitigating agricultural production risk, these supports also impact the environment via induced change in production choices. This dissertation contributes to U.S. agriculture policy and pollution management literature and insurance literature on moral hazard and selection problems. By examining the case of Federal Crop Insurance Program in the United States, this dissertation explores input choice changes caused by changes in government support for crop insurance. I proposed theoretical mechanism through which increasing use of financial risk management strategy can influence input decisions with risk implications, and tested these theories empirically with county-level panel data. Empirical tests showed that there were substantial decreases in irrigation investment and fertilizer application due to crop insurance offering. Policy implications on water scarcity and non-point source pollution management and on federal support to crop insurance market are discussed.

Submitted by Elba Lopes (elba.lopes@fecap.br) on 2017-08-17T14:43:53Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Amauri Gon??alves de Oliveira.pdf: 597730 bytes, checksum: 1ae60c4065723a9326b4eef6d4d90c53 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-08-17T14:43:53Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Amauri Gon??alves de Oliveira.pdf: 597730 bytes, checksum: 1ae60c4065723a9326b4eef6d4d90c53 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-09-23 / In the family business rules and customs are dictated by family members, not being influenced by external agents. To this end, the present study was to analyze the experience lived by the Comptroller in a family business of Mato Grosso State. However, the study sought to know if the controller implemented in a family business of Mato Grosso influences or is influenced. To this was worn a semi-structured interview with the former controller and the Chief Financial Officer in a company that operates in the Brazilian agribusiness and of great importance in Brazil to produce about 6 % of soybean country. The case study was the strategy adopted for the realization of this study in which a content analysis was performed. The main results show that the Comptroller is of great significance for better management, but that the influence exerted by it is limited to aspects of imposing standards and controls, qualify the management process, contribute to the professionalization of management and assist in internationalization, but that has little influence with respect to personal commitment of managing partners, it is noteworthy that this is a single case study. Thus it is understood that the Comptroller both influences as is influenced in the family environment, because the empirical practices exercised by the managers of the studied company. / No neg??cio familiar as regras e costumes s??o ditados pelos membros da fam??lia, sendo pouco influenciadas por agentes externos. Neste intuito, o presente estudo buscou conhecer a experi??ncia vivida pela Controladoria em uma empresa familiar do Estado do Mato Grosso. A pesquisa procurou conhecer se a controladoria implementada em uma empresa familiar de Mato Grosso influencia ou ?? influenciada. Para isto foi usado uma entrevista semiestruturada com o antigo controller e com o Diretor financeiro numa empresa que atua no agroneg??cio brasileiro e de grande relev??ncia no Brasil por produzir cerca de 6% da soja do pa??s. O estudo de caso foi a estrat??gia adotada para a efetiva????o deste estudo em que foi realizada uma an??lise de conte??do. Os principais resultados apontam que a Controladoria tem import??ncia relevante para uma melhor gest??o, mas que a influ??ncia exercida por ela se limita aos aspectos de impor padr??es e controles, qualificar o processo de gest??o, contribuir para a profissionaliza????o da gest??o e auxiliar na internacionaliza????o, mas que exerce pouca influ??ncia com rela????o ao comprometimento pessoal dos s??cios gestores. Assim entende-se que a Controladoria tanto exerce influ??ncia como ?? influenciada no ambiente familiar, devido as pr??ticas emp??ricas que s??o exercidas pelos gestores da empresa estudada.

Thesis (MA. Agricultural Management (Agricultural Economics)) -- University of Limpopo, 2014 / The role of agricultural exports to agriculture’s share of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in South Africa is of extreme importance and exhibits strong interest from all parts of the economy. Many believe that agriculture can salvage the declining economic growth under such global economic conditions. The decision to diversify and expand exports of these avocados, apples, mangoes and oranges will improve the South African economy’s unstable conditions. This study accounts for all the factors that are truly unique to South African’s economy. Therefore, the study will help to shift the focus of avocado, apple, mango and orange growers to export more due to the international market demand for such produce. The aim of the study was to analyse the link between avocado, apple, mango and orange exports and agriculture’s share of Gross Domestic Product in South Africa. The specific objectives are to determine the correlation between avocado, apple, mango and orange exports and the agriculture’s share of Gross Domestic Product in South Africa, investigate the contribution of avocado, apple, mango and orange exports and the agriculture’s share of Gross Domestic Product in South Africa, determine the growth rate (trends) of avocado, apple, mango and orange exports and determine the volatility of avocado, apple, mango and orange exports. The study used secondary time series data that covered a sample size of 17 years (1994 - 2011) of avocado, apple, mango and orange exports in South Africa. Two Stages Least Square models and Growth rate and Volatility models were used for data analysis. i Empirical results for agricultural exports equation revealed that agricultural economic growth in South Africa was significant with a positive coefficient. While a negative relationship between the Net Factor Income (NFI) and the agricultural exports in South Africa was noticed. Real Capital Investments had a significant positive coefficient. Consequently, results from agricultural economic growth equation revealed that agricultural exports were significant with a positive correlation. A relationship between NFI and agricultural GDP was also witnessed. Like other variables, Real Capital Investment was significant but negatively correlated. The results of growth rate and volatility models showed positive trends. Furthermore, results showed that the quantity of agricultural exports was positively related to agricultural economic growth. Another point of interest was that while these exports were positive and significantly related, the magnitude of its coefficient is smaller than the coefficients of Real Capital Investments. It is in this framework that the positive correlation exists between agriculture economic growth and agricultural exports. It is recommended that investment opportunities in the agricultural sector need to be investigated further because there is limited knowledge of the subject. The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery and the private sector need to join hands and build a mutual relationship to aid develop an agricultural economy which can be able to exports more than what it imports. This can also be done by subsidising farmers with capital to relieve them of other expenses.

O presente estudo teve como objetivo identificar os possíveis impactos na sustentabilidade da cadeia de valor com a Denominação de Origem do Queijo Santo Giorno. Para atender este objetivo, foram elaborados três artigos, o primeiro para analisar a aplicação das teorias de inovação, sustentabilidade e cadeia de valor na literatura. O segundo e o terceiro são estudos de caso referentes ao Projeto Rede, e ao desenvolvimento do queijo típico regional Santo Giorno, e verificar suas possíveis consequências no que se refere as três vertentes teóricas mencionadas. Para isto, foram realizadas entrevistas com os parceiros estratégicos do projeto, analisados documentos elaborados no decorrer do projeto e o livro Santo Giorno. Considera-se a partir do estudo, que é possível obter bons resultados a partir da Denominação de Origem do queijo, especialmente referentes a organização da cadeia de valor, e a implementação de inovações e melhorias nos atores da cadeia. No entanto, este processo tende a ser lento e gradativo, uma vez que o processo ainda está em fase inicial. / Competitiveness and innovation are intrinsic in agroindustrial systems, since agro-industrial development directly reflects the economic development of the region. The present study aimed to identify the possible impacts on the sustainability of the value chain with the Denomination of Origin of the Santo Giorno Cheese. To meet this objective, three articles were prepared, the first to analyze the application of theories of innovation, sustainability and value chain in the literature. The second and third are case studies of the Net Project, and the development of the typical regional cheese of Santo Giorno, and verify its possible consequences in relation to the three theoretical aspects mentioned. For this, interviews were carried out with the strategic partners of the project, analyzed documents elaborated in the course of the project and the book Santo Giorno. It is considered from the study that it is possible to obtain good results from the Denomination of Origin of the cheese, especially referring to the organization of the value chain, and the implementation of innovations and improvements in the actors of the chain. However, this process tends to be slow and gradual, since the process is still in its initial phase.

A partir da década de 1990 com legitimação do Estado da agricultura familiar como uma categoria social no meio rural, por intermédio de políticas públicas voltadas para o segmento, diversos programas governamentais surgiram para o fortalecimento desse modelo de desenvolvimento rural. No Estado do Paraná, em 1999 foi criado o programa Agroindústria Familiar “Fábrica do Agricultor” (PFA), com o objetivo de agregar valor aos produtos oriundos da agricultura familiar através da verticalização da produção pela agroindustrialização de pequeno porte. Assim, o objetivo geral deste estudo consistiu em avaliar o programa Agroindústria Familiar “Fábrica do Agricultor”. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida de forma descritiva quanto à abordagem dos seus objetivos, com a utilização das técnicas de pesquisa bibliográfica, pesquisa documental e levantamento, com a utilização de entrevistas estruturadas. Buscou-se primeiramente compreender a questão agrária brasileira, sob o enfoque das pequenas propriedades. Na sequência, definiu-se a agricultura familiar, as principais estratégias de reprodução social dos agricultores e os principais aspectos teóricos e metodológicos de políticas públicas, em uma revisão de literatura. Posteriormente foi realizada a análise documental e bibliográfica para maior conhecimento do PFA, subsidiando a elaboração dos instrumentos de coleta de dados. As entrevistas foram realizadas com uma amostra de 53 (cinquenta e três) agroindústrias que consistem no público prioritário beneficiário do programa, além disso com policy-makers e entidades participantes. Na etapa analítica do trabalho foram identificados os resultados decorrentes da implementação do PFA, comparando-os com os objetivos do programa. A política apresentou resultados diferenciados entre os objetivos propostos, sendo extremamente bem sucedida nos objetivos de inovação tecnológica, foco no mercado e apoio à agricultura familiar. Ficou evidenciado a relevância da agricultura familiar no estado paranaense e a significativa contribuição das políticas públicas para o fortalecimento da agricultura familiar, especificamente as ações do PFA para a promoção dos processos de verticalização da produção pela agroindustrialização de pequeno porte e o acesso aos mercados consumidores, com geração de emprego, renda e manutenção da família rural no campo. / Starting in the 1990s, with the legitimation of the State of family farming as a social category in rural areas, through public policies for the sector, many governmental programs have emerged to strengthen this rural development model. In the state of Paraná, in 1999, the the family farming program “Farmer's Factory” (Fábrica do Agricultor - PFA) was created with the objective of adding value to products from family farms through the vertical integration of the production of small agroindustrialization businesses. The objective of this study was to evaluate the family farming program “Farmer's Factory” (Fábrica do Agricultor - PFA). The research was conducted utilizing a descriptive approach to its goals, using techniques of bibliographical research, documentary research and surveys, which were done through structured interviews. First, the understanding of the Brazilian agrarian issue was sought, from the standpoint of small-scale family farms. Further, family farming, as well as the main strategies of social reproduction of farmers and the main theoretical and methodological aspects of public policy, were all defined through literature review. Subsequently, a bibliographical review and analysis were performed in order to achieve greater knowledge of the program (PFA), subsidizing the development of instruments for data collection. Interviews were conducted with a sample of 53 (fifty three) agribusinesses which consist the primary beneficiary target of the program, in addition to policy-makers and participating entities. In the analytical phase of the study the results from the implementation of the program (PFA) were identified, and compared with the goals of the program. The policy presented differentiated results among the proposed objectives, being extremely successful in the goals of technological innovation, market focus and support for the family farming industry. The study revealed the importance of family farming in the state of Paraná and the significant contribution of policies that strengthen this family agriculture, specifically the actions of the program (PFA) which promotes the vertical integration of production processes through the agroindustrialization of small businesses as well as their access to consumer markets, generating employment, income, enabling agricultural households to remain in rural areas.

Este trabalho teve com objetivo geral, desenvolver uma proposta de um modelo teórico de tomada de decisão com foco na gestão de custos de pequenas propriedades rurais familiares, que possibilite o apoio à tomada de decisão. E como objetivos específicos: i) desenvolver uma metodologia estruturada, a qual permita formar uma base literária para oferecer subsídios científicos para a execução da pesquisa; ii) desenvolver com base na literatura as dimensões e variáveis dos modelos necessários para propor um ferramental de aplicação e iii) aplicar o modelo proposto dentro das dimensões e variáveis, além de validar todas as etapas antecedentes e realizar as conclusões necessárias para verificar a efetividade do modelo aplicado. Em termos metodológicos, utilizou-se uma metodologia estruturada, a qual permitiu formar um portfólio bibliográfico de 29 artigos, e por meio dos constructos de pesquisa desenvolveu-se, com base em um modelo já existente, um modelo de segmentação de atividades para auxílio ao agricultor de pequenas propriedades rurais familiares, no processo de tomada de decisão com ênfase na gestão de custos. O modelo foi aplicado em seis propriedades rurais familiares na região Sudoeste do Paraná e Oeste de Santa Catarina. No que se refere aos resultados de pesquisa, foi possível identificar que o modelo pode ser aplicado ao contexto específico para o qual foi criado. Também foi possível identificar que o modelo proposto mostrou-se válido e relevante ao auxílio na gestão das propriedades rurais familiares identificando, por meio da segmentação das atividades produtivas, as prioridades de investimento pautadas na ponderação entre a gestão de custos e o retorno das atividades. Além disso, possibilitou-se segmentar as atividades das seis propriedades pesquisadas, demonstrando que a propriedade 02, possui a forma de segmentação mais complexa deve ser dividida em três grupos de atividades, as quais podem ser conduzidas em paralelo, sem que haja restrições entre as atividades. Outras propriedades apresentam a segmentação das atividades mais simples, possibilitando visualizar desta forma que há agrupamentos de atividades que requerem prioridades nos investimentos. Especificamente a propriedade 01 e 04 que apresentam os agrupamentos de segmentação de maior prioridade de investimentos, os agrupamentos das atividades de maior destaque representam respectivamente 49,32% e 47,40%, os quais são representados pelas atividades de produção de grãos na propriedade 01 e produção de grãos, gado de corte e ovos na propriedade 04. / This work was general-purpose, develop a proposal of a theoretical model of decisionmaking with a focus on management of small family farms costs, which enables support for decision making. And the following objectives: i) develop a structured methodology, which allows to form a literary basis to provide scientific support for the implementation of research; ii) develop based on the literature the dimensions and variables of the necessary models to propose an application and iii tooling) to implement the proposed model within the dimensions and variables, and validate every stage background and perform the necessary conclusions to verify the effectiveness of applied model. In terms of methodology, we used a structured methodology, which allowed forming a bibliographic portfolio of 29 articles, and through the research constructs developed, based on an existing model, an activity segmentation model for aid farmer of small family farms in the decision-making process with emphasis on cost management. The model was applied in six family farms in the South West region of Parana and Santa Catarina West. With regard to the search results, it was identified that the model can be applied to the specific context for which it was created. It was also possible to identify that the proposed model was valid and relevant to aid in the management of family farms by identifying, through the targeting of productive activities, investment priorities guided by the balance between managing costs and return activities. Moreover, possible to target the activities of six surveyed properties, demonstrating that the property 02, has the shape of more complex segmentation should be divided into three groups of activities, which can be conducted in parallel without any restrictions between activities. Other properties have the segmentation of the simplest activities, allowing viewing in this way that there are activities of groups that require prioritizing investments. Specifically the property 01 and 04 have the highest priority investment target groups, the most prominent activities of groups representing respectively 49.32% and 47.40%, which are represented by grain production activities on the property 01 and grain production, beef cattle and eggs on the property 04.

O presente estudo teve como objetivo identificar os possíveis impactos na sustentabilidade da cadeia de valor com a Denominação de Origem do Queijo Santo Giorno. Para atender este objetivo, foram elaborados três artigos, o primeiro para analisar a aplicação das teorias de inovação, sustentabilidade e cadeia de valor na literatura. O segundo e o terceiro são estudos de caso referentes ao Projeto Rede, e ao desenvolvimento do queijo típico regional Santo Giorno, e verificar suas possíveis consequências no que se refere as três vertentes teóricas mencionadas. Para isto, foram realizadas entrevistas com os parceiros estratégicos do projeto, analisados documentos elaborados no decorrer do projeto e o livro Santo Giorno. Considera-se a partir do estudo, que é possível obter bons resultados a partir da Denominação de Origem do queijo, especialmente referentes a organização da cadeia de valor, e a implementação de inovações e melhorias nos atores da cadeia. No entanto, este processo tende a ser lento e gradativo, uma vez que o processo ainda está em fase inicial. / Competitiveness and innovation are intrinsic in agroindustrial systems, since agro-industrial development directly reflects the economic development of the region. The present study aimed to identify the possible impacts on the sustainability of the value chain with the Denomination of Origin of the Santo Giorno Cheese. To meet this objective, three articles were prepared, the first to analyze the application of theories of innovation, sustainability and value chain in the literature. The second and third are case studies of the Net Project, and the development of the typical regional cheese of Santo Giorno, and verify its possible consequences in relation to the three theoretical aspects mentioned. For this, interviews were carried out with the strategic partners of the project, analyzed documents elaborated in the course of the project and the book Santo Giorno. It is considered from the study that it is possible to obtain good results from the Denomination of Origin of the cheese, especially referring to the organization of the value chain, and the implementation of innovations and improvements in the actors of the chain. However, this process tends to be slow and gradual, since the process is still in its initial phase.