Sistemas de comercialização de produtos agroecológicos: uma análise do projeto de extensão TICDEMOS

Abstract

The present work reports on experiences of technical consultancy for the development of electronic marketing systems for agroecological products conducted by the extension project "Information and Communication Technologies, Democracy, and Social Movements" (TICDEMOS) at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, between the years 2018 and 2022, with a focus on the consultations carried out through a Public Call in 2021. For this purpose, participant observation is employed, along with documentary research and interviews with the developers and organizers of agroecological baskets. It is noteworthy that these processes seek to subvert the hegemonic form of technological development, occurring in a participatory and shared manner, using open-source software and a constant concern for the well-being of workers, visibility of farmers, and consequently, the disalienation of consumers. It is observed that the systems greatly facilitate work, inhibit errors, and save time spent on extremely manual tasks, but at the same time, they can be challenging for collectives to appropriate and for consumers to accept. Furthermore, it is found that initiatives need to have a well-consolidated basket, with a demand that justifies the use of a website for this purpose. The consultations also prove to be of great importance in the education of students in the technological field who, through extension activities, broaden their conception of technologies and learn, in practice, how it can unfold in a context where humans and nature, and not profit, are placed at the center