The organic production certification and its impacts on agriculturists' work

Abstract

This research project aims to evaluate the organic production certification process under the ergonomics perspective, studying its impacts on the agriculturists' work. To achieve that, it is intended to use the Ergonomics Activity approach, as it allows a diversified analysis, in a sense that other aspects of the human work costs (cognitional and affectional) are investigated and not only the physical aspects. Organic agricultural production units (UPAO) from Campinas region will be selected, tasks and activities required by the Certification, either directly or indirectly, will be studied on these Units through the work ergonomics' analysis method (AET), a French - Belgian concept, which will allow the understanding of how the agriculturists work develop, in front of the organic certification standards and protocols. If from one perspective it is undeniable the need to assure the production quality for the society, in the other hand it is understood that this process must be studied under the agriculturists work perception, as it is not available neither a deeper knowledge about the correlated labour requirements, nor about the consequent demands, as much as related to the number of tasks, as well as to their complexity and difficulty degree. In other words, the Human Costs of Work (HCW) related to the organic agricultural activity is currently unknown, especially those derived from the certification process. The organic agriculture is in a faster growing pace and any research that can add value to the analysis of this type of agricultural handling, apart from the conventional method, can collaborate to a more solid and structured development and probably more sustainable also from the perspective of those who perform the job. (AU)