Agroecology in the Brazilian government agenda: developments between 2011 and 2014

Iracema Ferreira De Moura,Cezar Augusto Miranda Guedes,Renato Linhares De Assis

doi:10.11144/javeriana.cdr14-79.abga

Abstract

Since 2003, in Brazil, the agroecological perspective is present in punctual public policies of the federal government. In 2012, with a convergent action of the agroecological movement and the organic production, it was created the National Policy for Agroecology and Organic Production. This article presents a reconstruction of the process, while highlighting involved actors, as well as their demands and interests, ideas, and main forums. Despite its limitations and conflicts, the PNAPO is a benchmark and a political achievement, having insured the agroecological agenda in the public policies inter-related to rural development, food sovereignty, and the human right to adequate food

Highlights

Agroecology is a contemporary approach inserted in the construction of public policies that are concerned with rural development, food sovereignty, and the human right to adequate food (DHAA, in Portuguese)
It has to be understood in the context of the agri-food system and the Brazilian political conjuncture since 2003, when support policies related to family farming and food and nutrition security promotion gradually gained prominence
It is worth highlighting actions and public policies of the State, aiming at family farming and guided by the promotion of food and nutrition security, such as: (a) the institutionalization of organic agriculture; (b) technical assistance and rural extension, with focus on agroecology; (c) educational and research initiatives related to agroecology; (d) Pronaf’s lines of credit; (e) the policy of food and nutritional security, which includes the Minimum Price Guarantee Policy (PGPM, in Portuguese), the Food Acquisition Program (PAA, in Portuguese), and the National School Feeding Program (PNAE, in Portuguese); (f) support to management and sustainable usage of socio-biodiversity, and (g) the Rural Women’s Productive Organization Program

Summary

Introduction

Agroecology is a contemporary approach inserted in the construction of public policies that are concerned with rural development, food sovereignty, and the human right to adequate food (DHAA, in Portuguese). It has to be understood in the context of the agri-food system and the Brazilian political conjuncture since 2003, when support policies related to family farming and food and nutrition security promotion gradually gained prominence. It was from 2011 to 2014 when agroecology found its way into the governmental and decision agenda of the Presidency of the Republic of Brazil. Its ‘target public’, rationality and cultural, social, and economic characteristics are the structural elements of the agroecological praxis and theory (Perez-Cassarino, 2012)

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