Abstract
Purpose: In this article we present agroecological experiences in rural settlements in the municipality of Rio Bonito do Iguaçu, Paraná State, Brazil. By analyzing the advances and challenges of these initiatives, we aim to highlight the need for broader, systemic and multiscale actions in favor of building an agro-food system which promotes food and nutritional sovereignty and security of local/regional communities and thereby contributes to the development of territories. Methodology: This is a case study based on semi-structured qualitative interviews with settled families and representative entities. Findings: we observed that the practices have contributed to the construction of a socio-environmental consciousness, a more sustainable soil management, the increase of agrobiodiversity, improvement of health and income, as well as greater access to commercialization channels. Research Limitation: There are challenges and demands regarding training in agroecology, technical assistance, support in organizing farmer groups, financing, construction and consolidation of marketing channels for the income guarantees of families. Originality: A considerable mobilization of local actors was observed, which impacted the implementation of agroecological initiatives, but a more discrete participation of actors from other scales, which limits the enhancement of experiences as mechanisms of territorial development.
Highlights
Agricultural activities have always been a way to ensure the survival of the human species by guaranteeing food supply
In the context presented in previous sections, this study aims to analyze the advances and challenges of agroecological initiatives implemented in rural settlements, emphasizing the necessity of broader, systemic and multiscale actions in favor of building an agro-food system which promotes the security and food and nutritional sovereignty of local/regional communities and thereby contributes to territorial development, improving territories, communities and people
According to data from the Center for Sustainable Rural Development and Training in Agroecology (Ceagro) and the Ecovida Network there are about 50 families that are involved with agroecological practices in both settlements, eight of them with certification
Summary
Agricultural activities have always been a way to ensure the survival of the human species by guaranteeing food supply. After the Green Revolution, subsistence agriculture began to give way to the production of agricultural commodities for export. These markets demanded more and more standardized products and produced in large scale. To meet this demand, farmers used chemical inputs, hybrid seeds, transgenic, and agricultural machinery, which supported the expansion of monocultures, leading to the exclusion of part of the rural population from the countryside as well as affecting food standards
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