Constructing the Transitions and Co-Existence of Rural Development Models

Abstract

The rural world in Latin America is becoming more complex and diverse. In recent decades, new non-traditional productive activities have emerged, technological change has increased, local culture and tradition have been revalued and rural tourism has been developed, among other dynamics. Scientific and technological change, greater concern for the environment and new consumption patterns are at the root of these changes. It can be said that Latin America has begun a process of transition to new models of rural organization and development. Returning to the conceptual framework of innovation, the hypothesis underlying this work is that emerging initiatives constitute niche activities which, over time, become integrated into the territories, resulting in two types of situations: co-presence of activities and actors, with conflicts and competencies that prevent the construction of synergistic development dynamics, or co-existence, with shared articulations and projects between activities and actors. To account for this hypothesis, three experiences in Argentina are analyzed: one is the emergence of agroecological activities in regions dominated by production systems linked to exports; the second case of analysis is the emergence of tourism in traditional rural areas; the third, the emergence of more innovative and sustainable livestock farming. This research is qualitative and exploratory, based on interviews with key actors in all these activities.