MECHANISM OF PRODUCT DIFFERENTIATION AND ITS TERRITORIAL REPERCUSSIONS: THE CASE OF DOÑA ANA RICE (SPAIN) AND RICE OF THE LITORAL NORTE (BRAZIL)

Abstract

In this work, we propose to discuss the territorial repercussions resulting from the product differentiation mechanisms, namely, Integrated Production and Denomination of Origin. The rice production of the Cooperativa Arrozúa S.C.A in Andalusia - Spain, and the rice of the Litoral Norte, supported by the Associação dos Produtores de Arroz do Litoral Norte Gaúcho (APROARROZ), in Rio Grande do Sul - Brazil, were analyzed and compared. While in the first case an improvement in the economic, social and environmental conditions of the actors involved and of the territory observed, in the second case, a territorial specificity and the institutional mechanism of the Denomination of Origin are appropriated by a small group of actors. From the two case studied, it is discussed that these mechanisms do not necessarily imply territorial development processes, and their territorial repercussions may be limited to a small group of actors or even exclude from the process those who were already in situations of vulnerability. For this to happen, we discuss that communities have a set of resources - economic, human, environmental, institutional, cultural, etc. - which constitute their potential for development, and must find actors and strategies capable of assigning value to these resources, in a collective, effective and innovative way, by creating and mobilizing resources and capabilities hidden, dispersed and poorly used in the territories.