Do cacau ao chocolate: trajetória, inovações e perspectivas das pequenas agroindústrias de cacau/chocolate

Abstract

With the objective to analyze the trajectory and prospects of the agro-industrial micro and small business of cocoa/chocolate, that being deployed in cacao growing regions of the Country, the research sought to understand the new dynamic that has been pointed as a possible enabler of the productive restructuring process aiming to change consolidated concepts of "product/market exporter/commodity", as historically has been the system of production and marketing of Brazilian cocoa. Given all the instability of this market, the power of concentration and bargaining of the biggest international "players", and attempts of reorganization the rhumbs of local development in the municipalities producers after 1990s, due to the last great crisis, consolidation of production systems with quality and the verticalization represent viable economic alternatives to add value by transforming an agricultural commodity in a superior product with new concept "cocoa / chocolate." This new movement must meet the required standards quality management, seeking to introduce products that meet the demanding markets, differentiated, and less susceptible to economies of scale, as well as strengthen the new associativist formats of organization and management, allying themselves to local tourism. This new movement must meet the required standards quality management, seeking to introduce products that meet the demanding markets, differentiated, and less susceptible to economies of scale, as well as strengthen the new associativist formats of organization and management, allying themselves to local tourism . Having as theoretical reference the Economic Sociology studies, beyond the concepts of Porter with the model "Diamond of Competitiveness", the analysis sought to contribute to the construction of the indicative for the consolidation of agro-industrial micro and small business of cocoa/chocolate in the Country.