Estudo da Atuação do Grupo Olho D’água no Município de União-PI: a força das territorialidades contra o poder hegemônico das agroindústrias.

Abstract

The research focuses on analyzing the impact of the Olho D’Água sugar and alcohol group, established in 2002 in União-PI, on the construction of the municipality’s territoriality. Territories, understood as spaces shaped by multiple historical and identity processes, exhibit complex and contradictory dynamics, especially in the context of modern agriculture. The study is based on a dialectical-critical approach and employs qualitative and quantitative methods to examine socio-spatial transformations local power relations (between the sugarcane mill, city hall, businessmen, council, and residents), and changes in the economic, social and symbolic landscape of the city. Through historiographical analysis of the space before and after the company’s arrival, interviews with involved agents and a literature review, the study seeks to identify whether the effects of the mill’s establishment have been beneficial or harmful. The research highlights the importance of critical reflection on the processes of deterritorialization and reterritorialization caused by large agricultural enterprises, emphasizing their relevance to geographical studies. Understanding these phenomena enables a clearer view of the challenges and contradictions involved in territorial transformation and contributes to guiding more sustainable and equitable spatial planning strategies.