Social and environmental aspects of family agro-industries from Rio dos Sinos Valley, RS, Brazil

Abstract

This paper performs an interpretation of the social and environmental aspects of family agro-industries from Rio dos Sinos valley. A research was conducted along with the agricultural industries. Samples of water were collected and microbiological tests were conducted. The main agricultural industries of this region are based on food, involving fruits, vegetables, greens, grains, oilseeds, meat, milk and fish. They present a great variation among their technological levels. Family agro-industries are major generators of employment and income. They take advantage of production excesses and aim at adding value to products. The main environmental impacts are related to the use of water, contamination of water resources and of the environment as a whole. The generation of waste and surplus is very important, both in plants as meat improvement, with remains of bones, blood and tissues that do not have proper destination. The distribution of agricultural industries by municipalities that constitute the Rio dos Sinos valley, the age range of individuals who work in production, the energy sources used and the main available water sources are presented. Assessments on the management of the solid waste that is produced are made, which shows to be very limited. Effluents treatment systems are also evaluated – when existent, they are very poor and inefficient. Finally, microbiological evaluations on the quality of water used are made, indicating the presence of total coliforms and fecal coliforms in great part of the water samples evaluated. It indicated that an orientation to those responsible for agricultural industries is urgent and necessary in order to meet the drinking standards required by Order 518 from the Ministry of Health.