Journal of Agricultural Science; Vol. 6, No. 11; 2014 ISSN 1916-9752 E-ISSN 1916-9760 Published by Canadian Center of Science and Education 212 Biodiesel and the “Social Fuel Seal” in Brazil: Fuel of Social Inclusion? Marcelo Santana Silva 1,2 , Fábio Matos Fernandes 3 , Francisco Lima Cruz Teixeira 2 , Ednildo Andrade Torres 2 & Angela Machado Rocha 2 1 Federal Institute of Bahia (IFBA), Brazil 2 CIEnAm - Interdisciplinary Center for Energy and Environment (UFBA), Federal University of Bahia, Brazil 3 State University of Bahia (UNEB), Brazil Correspondence: Marcelo Santana Silva, CIEnAm - Interdisciplinary Center for Energy and Environment, Federal University of Bahia. Rua Aristides Novis, n. 2, 3rd Floor, Federation - CEP: 40210630 - Salvador/BA, Brazil. Tel: 55-(71)-3283-9808. E-mail: marcelosilva@ifba.edu.br Received: September 11, 2014 Accepted: October 8, 2014 Online Published: October 15, 2014 doi:10.5539/jas.v6n11p212 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/jas.v6n11p212 Abstract In 2005, the Brazilian government started the commercial production of biodiesel through the implementation of the National Program for Production and Use of Biodiesel (PNPB). From that year until 2012, the country became one of the largest biodiesel producers in terms of volume. The present study aims to critically analyze the Social Fuel Seal (SCS) established in PNPB as well as lifting the scenario on the effective participation of family farming in the program. This work is characterized as qualitative and exploratory, whose technical procedures were adapted to the literature search and data collection in government agencies involved with the program. The survey showed the following results: i) the modification of the law of SCS to promote the production of biodiesel has not provided positive results for the North and Northeast; ii) the acquisitions of family farming performed by biodiesel plants SCS presented a rather uneven performance among Brazilian regions; iii) the gross income per family in the Northeast during the study periods were low; iv) there are discrepancies in the figures one of the accredited program between regions cooperatives. In summary, despite the advancement of inclusion of biodiesel in Brazil’s energy matrix, this work shows that the SCS presented a scenario contrary to what was planned by the government, ie, the more developed regions have benefited most. Keywords: biodiesel, Social Fuel Seal, social inclusion, regional development, PNPB, Brazil 1. Introduction Initially, we observe that the relationship between economic and social development with the energy matrix are extremely complex and poorly understood. In the twentieth century, fossil energy, especially oil, has formed the main pillar of the global primary energy supply, because they are abundant and capable of various applications. Points guided to global warming and global unrest around the environmental issue put the energy debate in the global political agenda and represent hopeful opportunities for diversification of energy sources and new markets (Marchetti, 2012). Renewable energy is increasingly gaining importance in the global energy scene causing governments, businesses and civil society to discuss the insertion and/or increase of their participation in their energy mix (Timilsina et al., 2013). The World Energy Outlook 2013 published by the International Energy Agency (IEA), is quite emphatic in assuring that the increase in energy demand exceptionally held by developing countries where population growth shows strong acceleration and the consumption of energy per capita, is well below the developed countries. Therefore, much attention is being focused on the development of public policies of the so-called BRICs (Brazil, Russia, India and China) with respect to the energy issue, as regards the management of energy resources and emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) (IEA, 2013). In Brazil, a country famously known on the international scene by having a diversified energy matrix, the use of renewable energy sources accounted for 42.4% of its domestic energy supply in 2013, thanks to the use of sugarcane biomass with 15.4%; hydraulics and electricity with 13.8%; firewood and charcoal with 9.1%; and other renewable with 4.1% (EPE, 2013).