Systematic competitiveness in the development of rural territories – A case study of the state of Santa Catarina – Brazil

Abstract

Food production in Brazil is undergoing rapid and multifaceted transformations — economic, social, cultural, technological, and environmental — which directly impact the ability of rural areas to thrive in an increasingly complex context. Population aging, urbanization, climate change, and technological innovations emerge as critical challenges to the food production chain. In this context, the systemic integration of actors within the agri-food chain is essential to promoting a smarter, more sustainable agriculture aligned with knowledge-based policy decisions. Systemic competitiveness is a concept that encompasses dynamic systems formed by institutions that, through coproduction, interrelate to create or strengthen the competitiveness of a territory at the micro, meso, macro, and meta levels. How can the identification and characterization of systemic competitiveness contribute to decision-making by actors in the development of public policies in rural territories? This is an exploratory, descriptive, and interpretative study with a qualitative approach. The methodology consisted of a literature review and semi-structured interviews with territorial specialists. The findings point to potential pathways for public actors to design territorial development policies anchored in local and regional knowledge, overcoming geographic limitations. In addition to supporting public policy formulation, the results highlight that coproduction among actors (government, organized civil society, private companies, and public institutions) is essential to enhancing the systemic competitiveness of rural territories and achieving more efficient public management.