Rice production chain: an analysis of R&D of the new plant varieties used in the AMREC and AMESC regions in southern Santa Catarina

Abstract

A source of livelihood and food for humans, rice is present on all continents. In Brazil, especially in the southern region, this crop has relied on new management technologies and on the use of new protected plant varieties that seek to adapt it to the edaphoclimatic characteristics of each producing region, as well as on the introduction of differentiating features, such as high yield, pest resistance and herbicide tolerance. In this scenario, the objective of this work is the study of the correlation between plant variety protection and technological progress in a particular sector of agribusiness, the rice sector in the south of the State of Santa Catarina having been selected. Field research was carried out through semi-structured interviews with the actors of the rice chain, together with analysis of secondary data obtained from EPAGRI and EMBRAPA. As a result, a high use of protected plant varieties can be observed, which may confirm the hypothesis of a correlation between plant variety protection and technological progress in the rice sector. An effective increase in production and productivity in the same acreage is also observed, which confirms the second hypothesis, that the grant of exclusivity may result in benefits to society.