Alberto BRACAGIOLI works at the Centro de Agricultura Ecologica Ipe with peasants who cultivate without the use of pesticides and sell their products directly to consumers. For the past two years, he has been developing a special program in rural leadership for young peasants and future leaders, and has also been involved in research in the area of agrarian reform. He holds a bachelor's degree in agronomy from the Universidade Federal de Pelotas and a master's degree in rural sociology from the Universidade Federal do Rio Grando do Sul, both in Brazil.