Relational Spaces Among Smallholder Coffee Farmers in Southern Minas Gerais: An Analysis of Their Sustainability Practices

Brazil is the world’s largest coffee producer and exporter, and Southern Minas Gerais plays a central role in sustainability trajectories, with smallholders increasingly adopting agroecological practices despite limited access to markets and institutional support. Using Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of capital, economic, social, cultural, and symbolic. This study investigates how these dimensions shape farmers’ sustainability trajectories. Based on semi-structured interviews analyzed through Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA), four relational profiles were identified: non-sustainable, transitioning, sustainable, and certified sustainable farmers. Findings reveal that cultural capital alone is insufficient to drive change; its conversion into economic benefits depends on access to social networks and sustainability certifications. Symbolic capital emerges as a key driver for market differentiation. This research contributes to corporate social responsibility (CSR) literature by illustrating how social structures and embedded inequalities influence sustainable practices in agriculture. Public policies and market incentives must align to support inclusive and effective sustainability trajectories for smallholders.