Winds of change and rural multifunctionality: Study on social representations of farmers in the extreme south of Brazil

Abstract

Inaugurated in 2011, the Campos Neutrais Wind Complex was considered at the time the largest wind farm in Latin America, spread over the municipalities of Santa Vitória do Palmar, Rio Grande, and Chuí, on the border with Uruguay. This region stands out for the production of irrigated rice and extensive cattle raising. The wind turbines were installed predominantly in medium and large establishments, whose owners signed contracts with the energy companies. The reconciliation between energy generation and agricultural production reflects the modern concept of multifunctionality. Many producers see the environmental issue as antagonistic to their immediate interests. However, a new scenario appears at the moment when they start earning great income from the generation of energy. The objective of the research was to assess whether there were signs of changes in perception and behavior among the producers who joined the project. The research was carried out between 2016 and 2017 with several actors through in-depth interviews. The theory of social representations was the instrument used in the analysis of the testimonies. The main conclusion is that the new scenario has not changed the view of producers in the face of environmental issues, which mostly remain attached to the so-called agrarian fundamentalism.