Abstract
Modern agriculture has generated complex environmental damages. Sustainable food production models must be encouraged. Agroecology is presented as a more sustainable option, since it brings a holistic view of these complex and interdependent elements: food production and environmental protection. However, this model is challenging to apply, which is intensified by the limitations imposed by environmental command and control instruments. This paper aims to analyze how the economic instrument of Payment for Environmental Services (PES) can be enhanced in order to promote the reproduction of agroecology in Brazil. PES and the main environmental economic theories behind this instrument were briefly analyzed. From the analyses of selected case studies, the core structural and essential issues revolving failures of the current Brazilian PES programs have been identified. The hypothesis states that PES should migrate from the Environmental Neoclassical Economics’ logic and be grounded on the principles of Ecological Economics. Based in our analysis, PES should be able to promote agroecology in Brazil reading 3 key drivers: being mainly non-monetary, public and applying a systemic approach. Following this strategy would mean overcoming the market logic, whilst allowing public participation.
Highlights
Brazil has a historical large economic dependence of agricultural production based in modern conventional agriculture
This paper aims to analyze how the economic instrument of Payment for Environmental Services (PES) can be enhanced in order to promote the reproduction of agroecology in Brazil
PES projects are widespread in the country, Brazil has not defined a federal normative framework for systematizing PES yet
Summary
Brazil has a historical large economic dependence of agricultural production based in modern conventional agriculture. In Brazil, the green revolution marked the great expansion and intensification of agricultural practices through the implementation of reduced and homogeneous crop cultivars with intensive use of fertilizers, agrochemicals and machinery, especially in developing countries after 1960 It precisely aimed on intensifying the use of resources in order to increase production in the same unit of land, and to expand to uncultivated areas (Codonho, 2014). This process was developed based in economic gains and denying the agroecosystem characteristics, proving to generate harmful effects to the environment and the society (Altieri, 2012; Machado et al 2008) It has been causing many negative impacts, including the inversion of the ecological, social and sanitary order; pollution; problems regarding the quality and sanitary safety of the crops; and displacement of populations from entire regions. Restricting this model is essential to reestablish the quality of the environment, the food produced, (Mazoeyer, Roudart, 2010) and a living place for innumerous families
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
