DEVELOPMENT OF A DIAGNOSTIC TOOL FOR ANALYZING TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER IN FAMILY FARMING.
Family farming ; Technology transfer ; Absorptive capacity
Family farming plays a fundamental role in food production, food security, and
sustainable development in Brazil. In recent decades, various technologies have
been developed to improve rural production, such as improved seeds, adapted
machinery, and digital tools. However, even when these innovations reach rural
areas, they may not be adopted or adequately used. This study aims to develop
a diagnostic tool to analyze technology transfer and appropriation processes in
family farming, considering the conditions that influence the understanding,
adaptation, and incorporation of technological knowledge into farmers’ practices.
It also seeks to identify weaknesses in this process, contributing to the
improvement of technology transfer strategies. The methodology will be
conducted through a case study in rural communities in Mato Grosso, involving
semi-structured interviews with family farmers and technicians/extension agents,
technical visits, and observation of socio-productive conditions. One of the
focuses will be farmers’ absorptive capacity, understood as their ability to
assimilate, adapt, and apply new knowledge. The research will be conducted in
partnership with the Mato Grosso Research, Technical Assistance and Rural
Extension Company (EMPAER-MT). The diagnostic tool is intended to support
decision-making by public institutions, technicians, and policymakers, providing
evidence to improve technology transfer. The initiative is aligned with the
objectives of PROFNIT and aims to generate positive social, economic, and
environmental impacts in rural areas.