Os processos produtivos agrícolas na zona de amortecimento da Floresta Nacional de Passo Fundo

The buffer zone of the National Forest of Passo Fundo (Flona) is part of the Atlantic Forest Biome, which is a sustainable use conservation unit. Agricultural production processes reveal the decisions of rural landowners regarding their needs, lifestyle, desired income level, and use of production factors. The objective of this study was to identify the different production types in the buffer zone of Passo Fundo Flona and use this information to determine the socioeconomic characteristics and analyze the motivations of rural producers with respect to the production processes adopted. The descriptive method and qualitative approach were taken. The results were based on in-depth interviews with 18 rural owners whose statements were interpreted via Bardin’s content analysis This study concludes that soy monoculture is dominant in the conceptions and perceptions of rural landowners. The amount of land planted with transgenic soybeans is prioritized over the conventional ones, which incites the conflict between inspection agents and soybean producers inserted in the area of 500 meters where cultivation is prohibited. Furthermore, the lack of technical and economic incentives are the main limiting factors for the implementation of alternative and sustainable crops.