Percepções e práticas da juventude rural sobre alimentação na ótica da sustentabilidade

Abstract

The reconfiguration of food systems is seen as essential on the way to overcome humanity greatest challenges. These changes must focus on multidimensional sustainability to ensure adequate food for populations, while promoting the health of the planet. Rural youth are an important actor in food systems within the scope of the achievements of public policies for the rural environment in the sense of Food and Nutrition Sovereignty and Security, and can be considered strategic for the necessary changes. These young people comprise a significant portion of the Brazilian population, however they are neglected in academic-scientific research and government actions, demonstrating the need to value the voice of these subjects. The research was developed with the objective of understanding the perceptions, practices and elements of engagement of rural young people in relation to food and sustainability. This is a study with a qualitative approach with individual semi-structured interviews, which were analyzed using Content Analysis. From November 29 to December 13, 2021, interviews were carried out in an online environment with ten young people living in rural areas and aged between 18 to 29 years, from different regions of the country. Four categories of analysis of the material emerged, namely: I - Production and commercialization of food: between need and love; II - Healthy relationship with the land and all forms of life; III - Collectivity, justice and solidarity; and IV - Food and sustainability: engagement proposals. The young people interviewed showed concern with all stages of the food system and their perceptions, as well as their practices, were guided by sustainability in its multiple dimensions, namely: environmental, economic, social and cultural. The engagement proposals are in line with the principles of Food and Nutrition Education and Popular Education, so that they can contribute to the autonomy of other rural young people in the proposed thematic field. From a conceptual point of view, common points were identified with the different proposals for sustainable diets and elements that extrapolate them, resulting in an essay for a new concept: sustainable food. The perceptions and practices of rural youth in relation to food can contribute to the engagement and deepening of discussions on the subject. In this sense, these young people can propose and act in the reconfiguration of more sustainable food systems.