This article conducted qualitative descriptive research, using the case study research method. The case under analysis in this study is the agricultural link of the biodiesel production chain in Brazil, with a focus on oil palm family farmers. Thus, the study can be classified as multi-cases with personal and in-depth interviews.

The primary data collected included interviews with 27 professionals, con­ducted from February 2010 to February 2011. Of these key players, six respond­ents were from public agencies, two were bank professionals, three represented the opinions of the biodiesel companies, five were companies producing oil palm and other derivatives, two were representatives of family farmers’ associations, and nine respondents belonged to the agricultural production chain.