Geographical Indication Clustering for Cassava: Producing Municipalities in Rio de Janeiro State Based on Edaphoclimatic Similarities Using Geotechnologies

Abstract

The Geographical Indication (GI) is an important instrument for territorial valorization and differentiation of agri-food products with specific characteristics associated with their origin. In this context, this dissertation aimed to identify clusters of cassava-producing municipalities in the state of Rio de Janeiro with similar edaphoclimatic characteristics through the use of geotechnologies and Principal Component Analysis (PCA), seeking to provide a technical justification for the potential acquisition of a collective GI. Edaphoclimatic variables of precipitation, temperature, relief, and soil types were used. Through PCA, it was possible to reduce data dimensionality and, using cluster statistics, identify similarity patterns among the analyzed municipalities. As a result, three groups were defined: Group 1, composed of Duque de Caxias, Magé, Guapimirim, Cachoeiras de Macacu, Silva Jardim, and Casimiro de Abreu; Group 2, consisting of São Francisco de Itabapoana, Campos dos Goytacazes, and Quissamã; and Group 3, formed by Rio de Janeiro, Nova Iguaçu, and Japeri. These clusters reveal the existence of territories with edaphoclimatic similarities, which strengthens the argument for using geotechnologies to aid in the preparation of documentation for GI applications, based on technical and scientific criteria. It is concluded that the applied methodology can serve as a foundation for initial studies on the GI potential of agri-food products.