Indicação geográfica e etnodesenvolvimento: um meio para a valorização do açaí das ilhas de Belém

Abstract

The development process implemented in Brazil did not observe its great diversity. The Amazon was considered a homogeneous territory, ready to be occupied by the capital, which, in most cases, imported the economic exploitation of the region at the expense of environmental and social damage. Among the social damages caused is the social, economic and cultural invisibility of the traditional communities living in the region, because although Brazil is currently considered a multiethnic and multicultural state, these ethnically differentiated groups have never been considered active agents of development. The adoption of the theory of ethnodevelopment, which prioritizes the preservation of the culture of traditional communities and their ability to guide their own development, seems to be a way to overcome the problem, as it seeks to value their knowledge, which applies to extraction and consumption of acai, whose production chain is one of the most profitable in the state. This research aims to analyze whether obtaining a geographical indication, which is a protection of intellectual property that links a product or service to its home territory, can be configured as an instrument for the development of the region, from the perspective of ethnodevelopment, especially for the Açai of the Belem Islands region. The specific objectives established are to present the development models implemented in Brazil, with emphasis on the Amazon; to defend the use of the theory of ethnodevelopment, which recognizes cultural diversity and seeks the active participation of traditional communities; demonstrate how geographical indication, through product enhancement and regional culture, contributes to development; and to analyze the possibility of registering the geographical indication of the Acai of Belém Islands. For this study, the hypothetical-deductive method was adopted, with bibliographic consultations and access to secondary data. In addition, a case study will be conducted on the production of acai in the Belem Islands. With this research, it is expected to contribute to the valorization of regional products and the protection of the culture of traditional communities.