A Closer Look at the Brazilian Social Fuel Seal: Uptake, Operation and Dysfunctions

Due to the increasing concerns about the social effects of biofuel production in developing countries, the Brazilian government created the Social Fuel Seal (SFS) within the framework of the National Program of Production and Use of Biodiesel (PNPB) launched in 2004. The SFS is a voluntary certification scheme aimed at upgrading small farmers in the biodiesel value chain. In this article we discuss the institutional settings and explore the uptake, achievements and shortcomings of this political instrument in the light of the official data and the academic literature. Specific aspects of the practical implementation of SFS are examined upon the base of interviews conducted with different stakeholders in the state of São Paulo. Important dysfunctions in the overall operation of the SFS put under question the accomplishment of the social inclusion objective and awaken concerns about the sustainability of the role of family farmers in it.