Solidary enterprises and their possibility to promote family agriculture

Family farming has productive, economic, social, and cultural relevance in the country, but it still has great difficulties in entering the highly competitive capitalist market. The solidarity economy aims to be a counterpoint to this current economic system, as it is based on economic development supported by cooperation between people, the self-management of enterprises, and the search for a better way of life for its participants. The objective of the study was to bring some characteristics of the solidarity economy in Brazil and how it can be an instrument that promotes and supports the progress of family farming. Bibliographic and documentary research was carried out, with information collection in renowned national databases, such as the Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) and the Sistema de Informação em Economia Solidária (SIES). It was noticed that family farming sells its products mainly through direct sales to consumers, that its markets are local, and the lack of working capital is its prevailing difficulty.