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Le système alimentaire joue un rôle fondamental dans la santé, non seulement de façon directe, par les liens entre l’alimentation et la santé, mais aussi de façon indirecte, puisque la production, la transformation, la distribution et la consommation des aliments ont des effets sur les plans économique, environnemental et social qui, ultimement, influencent la santé. Par conséquent, les liens entre la nourriture et la santé sont depuis longtemps d’intérêt pour la santé publique. Néanmoins, une approche systémique de l’alimentation semble encore en émergence dans la recherche en santé publique. Dans cette thèse, nous intégrons la recherche en santé publique à la recherche sur les systèmes alimentaires pour mieux comprendre la transition vers des systèmes alimentaires basés sur des principes de l’innovation responsable, c’est-à-dire, plus durables et résilients, justes et équitables pour les travailleurs et bénéfiques pour la santé de la population. Afin de mieux comprendre ce phénomène, nous avons analysé la transition dans le contexte d’une économie établie et dans celui d’une économie émergente : la province de Québec (Canada) et l’État de São Paulo (Brésil). Plus spécifiquement, trois objectifs ont été cernés par le devis d’une étude de cas multiple qui combine des données primaires et secondaires. Le premier objectif consistait à caractériser les systèmes alimentaires dans la province de Québec et l’État de São Paulo. Afin d’atteindre ce but, nous avons mené une analyse secondaire de données socio-économiques sur le système alimentaire de ces deux endroits. Cette caractérisation a mis en évidence la manière dont ces systèmes alimentaires sont abordés par les autorités publiques sur leur propre territoire, c.-à-d. une activité économique. Cette perspective purement économique contraste avec une orientation vers le bien commun, nécessaire pour mettre de l’avant le rôle des systèmes alimentaires face aux grands défis sociétaux, comme la sécurité alimentaire et le changement climatique. Le deuxième objectif a permis de clarifier comment les contraintes et les opportunités contextuelles affectent l’émergence de l’innovation responsable dans le système alimentaire. Pour atteindre ce but, nous avons analysé des données issues de 34 entrevues semi-structurées menées dans 30 organisations, soit 15 dans la province de Québec et 15 dans l’État de São Paulo. Les analyses clarifient la façon dont les différentes dimensions contextuelles façonnées par le système alimentaire dominant freinent l’émergence d’organisations et de pratiques responsables. D’autre part, les résultats font ressortir que les dimensions contextuelles peuvent être modifiées de façon délibérée afin de soutenir l’émergence de l’innovation responsable dans le système alimentaire. Le troisième objectif de la thèse comprenait l’analyse des organisations et des pratiques qui soutiennent la transition des systèmes alimentaires. La base de données pour atteindre cet objectif était constitué de 34 entrevues semi-structurés, de notes de terrain et de documents publics. Étant donné que la littérature sur l’innovation responsable dans le système alimentaire est encore en émergence, nous avons élaboré une définition provisoire du concept de l’Innovation responsable dans les systèmes alimentaires (IRSA) pour soutenir l’étude. Les résultats clarifient la façon dont les organisations et les pratiques axées sur l’IRSA transforment la production alimentaire en intégrant des pratiques de production qui visent à avoir un impact social et environnemental positif. Elles transforment la distribution alimentaire par des pratiques de commercialisation transparentes qui rapprochent les producteurs et les consommateurs et par des principes de responsabilité qui modifient la demande aux plans individuel et institutionnel. Enfin, elles contribuent à la transition en résistant aux dynamiques du système alimentaire dominant et en cherchant à aligner les acteurs vers un objectif commun. En conclusion, cette thèse montre que l’intégration entre la recherche sur les systèmes alimentaires et la recherche en santé publique permet de s’attaquer aux causes profondes des enjeux de sécurité alimentaire. L’approche de l’innovation responsable mobilisée dans la thèse peut contribuer à la création d’innovations qui auront le potentiel de promouvoir la transition des systèmes alimentaires. Les connaissances générées dans cette thèse sont susceptibles d’informer la mise en place de politiques publiques et de pratiques à l’interface de la santé publique, des systèmes alimentaires et de la protection de l’environnement. Ce type d’intégration est primordial pour soutenir la consolidation des systèmes alimentaires plus favorables à la santé. / The food system plays a fundamental role in health, not only directly, through the links between food and health, but also indirectly, as the production, processing, distribution, and consumption of food have economic, environmental, and social effects that ultimately affect health. Therefore, the links between food and health have long been of interest to public health. Nevertheless, a systems approach to food seems to be still emerging in public health research. In this thesis, we integrate public health research with food systems research to better understand the transition to food systems based on principles of responsible innovation, i.e., more sustainable, resilient, fair, equitable to workers, and beneficial to population health. In order to better understand this phenomenon, we analyzed the transition in the context of an established economy and an emerging economy: the province of Québec (Canada) and the state of São Paulo (Brazil). More specifically, three objectives were pursued through the design of a multiple case study that combines primary and secondary data. The first objective consisted of characterizing the food systems in the province of Québec and the state of São Paulo. To achieve this goal, we conducted a secondary analysis of socio-economic data on the food system of the province of Québec and the state of São Paulo. The characterization of these two food systems highlighted the way they are approached by public authorities in their own territory: an economic activity. This purely economic perspective contrasts with an orientation towards the common good, which is necessary to put forward the role of food systems in the face of major societal challenges, such as food security and climate change. The second objective clarified how contextual constraints and opportunities affect the emergence of responsible innovation in the food system. To achieve this goal, we analyzed data from 34 semi-structured interviews conducted in 30 organizations, 15 in the province of Québec and 15 in the state of São Paulo. The analyses clarified how different contextual dimensions shaped by the dominant food system hindered the emergence of responsible organizations and practices. On the other hand, the results showed that the contextual dimensions can be deliberately modified to support the emergence of responsible innovation in the food system. The third objective involved the analysis of organizations and practices that support food systems transition. The database consisted of 34 semi-structured interviews, fieldnotes, and public documents. Given that the literature on responsible innovation in food systems is still emerging, we developed a draft definition of the concept of Responsible Innovation in Food Systems (RIFS) to support the study. The findings clarified how RIFS-oriented organizations and practices transformed food production by incorporating production practices that aim to have a positive social and environmental impact. They transformed food distribution through transparent commercialization practices that bring producers and consumers closer together and through responsibility principles that change demand at the individual and institutional levels. Finally, they contributed to the transition by resisting the dynamics of the dominant food system and seeking to align actors toward a common goal. In conclusion, this thesis showed that the integration between food systems research and public health research can contribute to addressing the deep causes of food security issues. The responsible innovation approach mobilized in this thesis can foster the development of innovations that promote food systems transition. Thus, the knowledge generated in this thesis can inform the development of policies and practice at the interface of public health, food systems and environmental protection. This type of integration is critical to support the consolidation of healthier food systems. / O sistema alimentar desempenha um papel fundamental na saúde, não apenas diretamente, através da relação entre os alimentos e a saúde, mas também indiretamente, uma vez que a produção, processamento, distribuição e consumo de alimentos tem efeitos econômicos, ambientais e sociais que, em última instância, influenciam a saúde. Dessa forma, os vínculos entre a alimentação e a saúde são de interesse para a saúde pública há muito tempo. No entanto, uma abordagem sistêmica sobre o papel da alimentação na saúde parece estar ainda em emergência nas pesquisas em saúde pública. Nesta tese, integramos a pesquisa em saúde pública à pesquisa em sistemas alimentares para compreender a transição para sistemas alimentares baseados em princípios de inovação responsável, ou seja, mais sustentáveis e resilientes, justos e equitativos para os trabalhadores e benéficos para a saúde da população. A fim de ampliar a compreensão deste fenômeno, analisamos a transição no contexto de uma economia estabelecida e uma economia emergente: a província de Québec (Canadá) e o estado de São Paulo (Brasil). Nesse sentido, buscamos alcançar três objetivos específicos por meio de um estudo de caso múltiplo que combina dados primários e secundários. O primeiro objetivo consistia em caracterizar os sistemas alimentares da província de Québec e do estado de São Paulo. Para atingir este objetivo, foi feita uma análise secundária dos dados socioeconômicos do sistema alimentar da província de Québec e do estado de São Paulo. A caracterização destes dois sistemas alimentares destacou a forma como estes são abordados pelas autoridades públicas em seu próprio território: uma atividade econômica. Esta perspectiva puramente econômica contrasta com uma orientação para o bem comum, necessária para destacar o papel dos sistemas alimentares frente aos grandes desafios da sociedade, como a segurança alimentar e as mudanças climáticas. No segundo objetivo buscamos esclarecer as restrições e oportunidades contextuais que afetam o surgimento de inovações responsáveis no sistema alimentar. Para isso, foram analisados dados de 34 entrevistas semiestruturadas realizadas em 30 organizações, 15 na província de Québec e 15 no estado de São Paulo. As análises esclareceram de maneira empírica que as dimensões contextuais moldadas pelo sistema alimentar dominante dificultam o surgimento de organizações e práticas responsáveis. Por outro lado, os resultados sugerem que as dimensões contextuais podem ser deliberadamente modificadas para apoiar o surgimento de uma inovação responsável no sistema alimentar. O terceiro objetivo da tese envolveu a análise das organizações e práticas que apoiam a transição dos sistemas alimentares. Os dados utilizados para alcançar este objetivo consistiram em 34 entrevistas semiestruturadas, notas de campo e documentos públicos. Considerando que a literatura sobre inovação responsável em sistemas alimentares ainda está emergindo, desenvolvemos uma definição provisória do conceito de Inovação Responsável em Sistemas Alimentares (IRSA) para apoiar o estudo. Os resultados mostraram como as organizações e práticas orientadas para a IRSA transformam a produção de alimentos através da integração de práticas de produção que visam ter um impacto social e ambiental positivo. Elas transformam a distribuição de alimentos através de práticas de comercialização transparentes que conectam produtores e consumidores, e através de princípios de responsabilidade que transformam a demanda em nível individual e institucional. Finalmente, elas contribuem para a transição resistindo às dinâmicas do sistema alimentar dominante e procurando alinhar diferentes atores em direção a um objetivo em comum. Em conclusão, esta tese mostrou que a integração da pesquisa em sistemas alimentares à pesquisa em saúde pública permite abordar as causas profundas das questões de segurança alimentar. A abordagem de inovação responsável mobilizada nesta tese pode contribuir para o desenvolvimento de inovações que tenham o potencial de promover a transição dos sistemas alimentares. Por fim, os conhecimentos desenvolvidos nesta tese podem informar políticas e práticas na interface entre saúde pública, sistemas alimentares e proteção ambiental. Este tipo de integração é fundamental para apoiar o fortalecimento de sistemas alimentares mais favoráveis à saúde.

Urban and peri-urban agriculture is a strategy that can be adapted by low income households in Orange Farm to meet their food and nutritional requirements. The practice is a basis upon which poor families can enhance their incomes by producing part of their food needs, hence saving money for use on other livelihood obligations. This dissertation discusses the importance of urban and peri-urban agriculture as a method easily available to low income families residing in informal settlements to access food and incomes. Urban agriculture is examined in the context of poverty alleviation. A descriptive and quantitative assessment of the salient variables of the practice in the area is attempted in order to give an insight of the potential role the sector can play in eliminating poverty, enhancing incomes and creating employment. The study shows that participation in urban farming can impact significantly on poverty conditions and improve livelihoods. / MA (Development Studies)

Achieving food security under climate change is one of the biggest challenges of the 21st century. The challenge becomes even greater when contextualised within our current limited understanding of how the food system functions as a complex, adaptive socio-ecological system, with food security as one of its outcomes. Adding climate change into this already complex and uncertain mix creates a ‘wicked problem’ that must be solved through the development of adaptive food governance. The thesis has 4 key aims: <ul><li>1. To move beyond an understanding of food security that is dependent solely on agricultural production, and therefore the reliance of future food security predictions on production data based on climate model inputs.</li><li>2. To ground the theoretical aspects of complex adaptive systems with empirical data from multi-level case studies.</li><li>3. To investigate the potential role of the private sector in food system futures.</li><li>4. To analyse food system dynamics across scales and levels.</li></ul> In order to realise these aims, a complex adaptive system (CAS) approach within the GECAFS food system framework is employed to multilevel case studies in South Africa and Brazil. Particular emphasis is placed on the role of the private sector and how these vital actors, comprising a powerful component of the global food system, can be mobilized towards building adaptive capacity for a more resilient food system. Critically, the private sector is often left out of academic discussions on adaptation, which tend to focus more on civil society and governmental capacity to adapt. This thesis provides novel insight into how the power of the private sector can be harnessed to build adaptive capacity. The findings of the thesis showed that applying CAS to issues of governance has three important implications: The first is that in a complex system, it is critical to maintain diversity. This can translate into appreciating a multiplicity of viewpoints in order to reflect a range of decision-making options. This finding makes the case for closer synergy between the public and private sectors around areas like product development and distribution that includes an emphasis on enhancing food security under climate change. In the developing country context, the inclusion of smallholders and local entrepreneurs is also vital for building adaptive capacity. In this sense, it is possible for business to help achieve development goals by developing the capacity of those most vulnerable to socio-economic and environmental shocks. Secondly, adapting to climate change and other environmental and economic pressures will require a shift in mind-set that embraces the uncertainty of the future: ‘managing for uncertainty rather than against it’. This entails a shift in governance mindset away from linear thinking to a decision-making paradigm that is more flexible to deal with unexpected shocks. The third implication for governance is the need to understand the complex interplay of multiple interlinking processes and drivers that function across many levels and sometimes have exponential positive feedbacks in the food system. Adaptive governance is an iterative process, but as more is learnt and information is retained in the system, the ideal is that the beneficial processes that lower inequality and increase food security will start to be reinforced over those that entrench the current inequality in the food system.

As a response to the growing global sustainability challenges related to industrial agriculture, alternative approaches of food production and distribution are emerging. One approach that fosters direct consumer-producer relationships and sustainable local food production is known as Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). This study explored how the CSA movement can be supported strategically towards a flourishing movement in Europe. A qualitative research approach was chosen with a comparative element of the two countries with contrastive characteristics in terms of the degree of successfulness of the movement; with France being successful and Sweden having less success in terms of the number of CSAs. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 CSA farmers, network members and researchers. The results revealed barriers and enablers for a flourishing movement under five overarching themes: (1) Definition, structure and operation (2) The direction of the movement (3) Social aspects (4) Knowledge and communication, and (5) Country-/region-specific aspects. Crucial factors and contrastive features between countries were identified and discussed in relation to how they hinder or enable a flourishing movement. Based on the findings, strategic guidelines were developed with the aim of contributing to CSA practitioners and leaders in Europe.

This dissertation examines how concerns about food system transformations affect how middle class consumers in Islamabad, Pakistan, perceive and approach food consumption in their everyday lives. The dissertation is situated in the context of risky food environments and food fears resulting from intensified, industrialised, and increasingly lengthened global food systems. Working within food geography and food environments paradigms, this dissertation explores how the transformation of food systems is associated with increasing anxiety about food security and safety for middle class urban consumers in Islamabad. Qualitative data gathered from semi-structured interviews and participant observation is used to illustrate the effects external influences, such as energy scarcity and violent events, have on everyday food environments. The dissertation examines the ways in which conceptualisations of 'good food', and trust relationships are negotiated in these dynamic food environments. The intensely geographical nature of these food environments and food systems, and the role of place-specific contexts on perceptions and adaptations related to food anxieties are emphasised. Situated in literatures on food anxiety and food consumption emerging from geography, food studies, and anthropology, this dissertation challenges dominant discourses on alternative and ethical consumption in a globalising food system. The results of this research not only contribute to literature on South Asia, but also contribute to consumption practices of a burgeoning middle class in developing countries.

Nourrir une population mondiale croissante dans un contexte de changements globaux pose de nouveaux défis à l’agriculture en termes d’efficience de production et d’impacts environnementaux. Rendre les systèmes agro-alimentaires plus soutenables nécessite de mieux recycler la biomasse et les nutriments, c’est-à-dire de tendre vers des flux de fertilisants, de produits végétaux, d’aliments du bétail, de coproduits et de déchets plus circulaires. À ce titre, il est nécessaire de développer de nouveaux outils pour mieux explorer et évaluer les échanges de matières entre les fermes et leurs partenaires économiques amont et aval dans les territoires. Dans le travail présent, l’état de l’art concernant les méthodes d’analyse, de modélisation et d’évaluation environnementale des flux de biomasse et d’éléments minéraux à différentes échelles est réalisé. Le modèle multi-agents FAN (« Flows in Agricultural Network») qui simule les flux des matières entre les fermes et leurs partenaires économiques dans les territoires agricoles a été développé. Les processus de FAN sont expliqués en détail et une analyse de sensibilité des variables clefs est présentée. Par ailleurs, le modèle FAN a été appliqué à un cas d’études en France pour évaluer la performance des scénarios contrastés visant à améliorer l’efficience d’utilisation des éléments minéraux, développer le recyclage de la matière, favoriser la production du biogaz ou reconcevoir les systèmes de production. Les sorties de simulations des scénarios sont analysées en termes de production alimentaire et énergétique, de flux de matières et de logistique, de cycle des nutriments et d’émissions de gaz à effet de serre. Ce travail montre l’utilité des outils de prospective et modèles multi-agents pour améliorer la durabilité des systèmes agricoles et des chaines alimentaires, pour créer et évaluer des solutions collectives tendant vers l’économie circulaire et pour prendre en charge les interactions entre acteurs économiques au sein des chaines et filières alimentaires complexes. / Feeding the growing global population in a context of global change raises new challenges for agriculture regarding its production efficiency and impacts on natural resources. Solutions for towards farming sustainability require to improve nutrient and biomass recycling in agro-food systems, i.e. to move from linear to more circular flows of fertilizers, crop products, feedstuff, by-products and organic wastes. Innovative tools exploring material exchanges between farms and their upstream and downstream partners in agro-food systems at the local scale are needed. In the present work, the state of the art about analysis methods, models and environmental tools addressing nutrient and biomass flows at different scales is reviewed. The FAN (“Flows in Agricultural Network”) model, an agent-based model that simulates a range of material flows among farms and their partners within agricultural districts is developed. FAN processes are explained in details and a sensitivity analysis to some key variables is performed. In addition, the FAN model is applied to a French case-study to assess the performances of contrasted scenarios aiming to enhance nutrient use efficiency, recycling strategies, biogas production and system redesign. The outcomes from the scenario simulation are analyzed are assessed in terms of food provisioning, nutrient cycling and greenhouse gas emissions. This work shows the usefulness of prospective, agent-based tools for greater farming and food-chain sustainability, to design and evaluate collective solutions for circular economy and to account for interactions among economic actors within complex agro-food systems.

No Rio Grande do Sul, a bovinocultura de corte é uma atividade de importância histórica, fundamental na formação da economia, cultura e, mesmo, do ‘território’ do estado. A atividade foi favorecida pelo ecossistema pastoril que caracteriza as regiões da Campanha e dos Campos de Cima da Serra. Esta última está localizada no nordeste do estado do Rio Grande do Sul, onde é produzido o Queijo Serrano. A produção de queijo remonta à época da ocupação do território pelos primeiros habitantes não indígenas, tendo características específicas e sendo feito artesanalmente. A produção de queijo a partir do leite da bovinocultura de corte constitui uma particularidade do sistema, já que ele não foi intencionalmente organizado em função da produção do queijo. Por outro lado, a atividade de queijaria tem importância crescente na ocupação das famílias, e o Queijo Serrano, além de reconhecido e procurado por consumidores, tem potencial de gerar externalidades positivas, constituindo fonte de renda, ocupação, e contribuindo para manutenção de uma cultura e de um ecossistema. Por estar localizado em uma área sem aptidão à agricultura de escala, muitas das características do sistema de produção foram preservadas. O mesmo observa-se no modo de organização social. Ainda, por estar situado sobre um ecossistema de pastagens naturais, a manutenção do sistema pecuário, significa a preservação de um modo sustentável de exploração dos recursos naturais, que traz consigo também a preservação de valores culturais e históricos. / In Rio Grande do Sul, cattle raising is a historically important activity, crucial in the formation of economy, culture and even the 'territory' of the state. The activity was favored by the pastureland ecosystem characterizing the areas of the Campanha and the Campos de Cima da Serra. The latter is located in the northeast of Rio Grande do Sul where the Serrano Cheese is produced. Its production dates back to the period of land occupation by the early nonindigenous people, it has specific features and it is still produced in artisanal fashion. Cheese production from milk of beef cattle is a particularity of the system, as it was not purposefully organized to produce cheese. On the other hand, cheese have a growing importance in family occupation, and the locally-produced cheese is appreciated for by the consumers, but also has the potential to generate positive externalities, constituting a source of income and occupation as well as contributing to the maintenance of a culture and an ecosystem. As it is located in an area unsuitable for full-scale agriculture, many of the characteristics of the production system were conserved. The same is observed in the mode of social organization. Also, because it is located on an ecosystem of natural grasslands, the maintenance of the cattle raising system by the cheese production entails the conservation of a sustainable mode of exploitation of natural resources, which brings with it the conservation of cultural and historical values.

No Rio Grande do Sul, a bovinocultura de corte é uma atividade de importância histórica, fundamental na formação da economia, cultura e, mesmo, do ‘território’ do estado. A atividade foi favorecida pelo ecossistema pastoril que caracteriza as regiões da Campanha e dos Campos de Cima da Serra. Esta última está localizada no nordeste do estado do Rio Grande do Sul, onde é produzido o Queijo Serrano. A produção de queijo remonta à época da ocupação do território pelos primeiros habitantes não indígenas, tendo características específicas e sendo feito artesanalmente. A produção de queijo a partir do leite da bovinocultura de corte constitui uma particularidade do sistema, já que ele não foi intencionalmente organizado em função da produção do queijo. Por outro lado, a atividade de queijaria tem importância crescente na ocupação das famílias, e o Queijo Serrano, além de reconhecido e procurado por consumidores, tem potencial de gerar externalidades positivas, constituindo fonte de renda, ocupação, e contribuindo para manutenção de uma cultura e de um ecossistema. Por estar localizado em uma área sem aptidão à agricultura de escala, muitas das características do sistema de produção foram preservadas. O mesmo observa-se no modo de organização social. Ainda, por estar situado sobre um ecossistema de pastagens naturais, a manutenção do sistema pecuário, significa a preservação de um modo sustentável de exploração dos recursos naturais, que traz consigo também a preservação de valores culturais e históricos. / In Rio Grande do Sul, cattle raising is a historically important activity, crucial in the formation of economy, culture and even the 'territory' of the state. The activity was favored by the pastureland ecosystem characterizing the areas of the Campanha and the Campos de Cima da Serra. The latter is located in the northeast of Rio Grande do Sul where the Serrano Cheese is produced. Its production dates back to the period of land occupation by the early nonindigenous people, it has specific features and it is still produced in artisanal fashion. Cheese production from milk of beef cattle is a particularity of the system, as it was not purposefully organized to produce cheese. On the other hand, cheese have a growing importance in family occupation, and the locally-produced cheese is appreciated for by the consumers, but also has the potential to generate positive externalities, constituting a source of income and occupation as well as contributing to the maintenance of a culture and an ecosystem. As it is located in an area unsuitable for full-scale agriculture, many of the characteristics of the production system were conserved. The same is observed in the mode of social organization. Also, because it is located on an ecosystem of natural grasslands, the maintenance of the cattle raising system by the cheese production entails the conservation of a sustainable mode of exploitation of natural resources, which brings with it the conservation of cultural and historical values.

No Rio Grande do Sul, a bovinocultura de corte é uma atividade de importância histórica, fundamental na formação da economia, cultura e, mesmo, do ‘território’ do estado. A atividade foi favorecida pelo ecossistema pastoril que caracteriza as regiões da Campanha e dos Campos de Cima da Serra. Esta última está localizada no nordeste do estado do Rio Grande do Sul, onde é produzido o Queijo Serrano. A produção de queijo remonta à época da ocupação do território pelos primeiros habitantes não indígenas, tendo características específicas e sendo feito artesanalmente. A produção de queijo a partir do leite da bovinocultura de corte constitui uma particularidade do sistema, já que ele não foi intencionalmente organizado em função da produção do queijo. Por outro lado, a atividade de queijaria tem importância crescente na ocupação das famílias, e o Queijo Serrano, além de reconhecido e procurado por consumidores, tem potencial de gerar externalidades positivas, constituindo fonte de renda, ocupação, e contribuindo para manutenção de uma cultura e de um ecossistema. Por estar localizado em uma área sem aptidão à agricultura de escala, muitas das características do sistema de produção foram preservadas. O mesmo observa-se no modo de organização social. Ainda, por estar situado sobre um ecossistema de pastagens naturais, a manutenção do sistema pecuário, significa a preservação de um modo sustentável de exploração dos recursos naturais, que traz consigo também a preservação de valores culturais e históricos. / In Rio Grande do Sul, cattle raising is a historically important activity, crucial in the formation of economy, culture and even the 'territory' of the state. The activity was favored by the pastureland ecosystem characterizing the areas of the Campanha and the Campos de Cima da Serra. The latter is located in the northeast of Rio Grande do Sul where the Serrano Cheese is produced. Its production dates back to the period of land occupation by the early nonindigenous people, it has specific features and it is still produced in artisanal fashion. Cheese production from milk of beef cattle is a particularity of the system, as it was not purposefully organized to produce cheese. On the other hand, cheese have a growing importance in family occupation, and the locally-produced cheese is appreciated for by the consumers, but also has the potential to generate positive externalities, constituting a source of income and occupation as well as contributing to the maintenance of a culture and an ecosystem. As it is located in an area unsuitable for full-scale agriculture, many of the characteristics of the production system were conserved. The same is observed in the mode of social organization. Also, because it is located on an ecosystem of natural grasslands, the maintenance of the cattle raising system by the cheese production entails the conservation of a sustainable mode of exploitation of natural resources, which brings with it the conservation of cultural and historical values.