1930‒1990 - THE INTERVENTION OF THE BRAZILIAN STATE IN THE SUGAR-ENERGY SECTOR: IAA-PLANALSUCAR, PROÁLCOOL AND THE PARTICIPATION OF GILBERTO MILLER AZZI. DID WORK?

ABSTRACT

In Brazil, sugarcane is the crop whose agro-industrial development has taken the longest path and has the greatest prominence in the national agro-industry, without precedent. With 500 years of history, Brazil is today the largest producer of sugarcane raw material and sugarcane ethanol in the world. In addition, has the world's largest program for the replacement of fossil fuel by ethanol in vehicles and shares with India the position of largest sugar producer; in addition, it has developed the largest active sugarcane genetic improvement program in the world. However, in contrast to these achievements throughout its history, it has also received criticism even from businesspersons of the sector itself, mainly regarding State intervention and its inefficiency. This is a paradox: “success and inefficiency?” The general objective of this work was to analyze exactly this contradiction since the great agro-industrial development occurred especially during the 60 years of State intervention (1930‒1990). We concluded that this intervention was a key element in the success of the agroindustry both during and after the intervention. Many personalities deserve mention in this process, in both the field of ideas and decisions and practical actions: politicians, public agents, businesspersons, sugar mill owners, agroindustry technicians, and independent producers. We selected a researcher, Dr. Gilberto Miller Azzi, as an example, due to the fact that, from 1955 onwards, as a researcher at the IAA, he represented the scientific and technological area of the Brazilian State, acting decisively for the achievements of the sector. In this regard, an analysis was made of the main factors that have leveraged the national sugar and alcohol sector from the 1930s to the present day.

tate intervention; profitable strategy?; timeline: joining fragments