Food Sovereignty, Agroecology And Biocultural Diversity

Abstract

Contestations over knowledge -and who controls its production -are a key focus of social movements and other actors that promote food sovereignty, agroecology and biocultural diversity.This book critically examines the kinds of knowledge and ways of knowing needed for food sovereignty, agroecology and biocultural diversity.'Food sovereignty' is understood here as a transformative process that seeks to recreate the democratic realm and regenerate a diversity of autonomous food systems based on agroecology, biocultural diversity, equity, social justice and ecological sustainability. It is shown that alternatives to the current model of development require radically different knowledges and epistemologies from those on offer today in mainstream institutions (including universities, policy think tanks and donor organizations). To achieve food sovereignty, agroecology and biocultural diversity, there is a need to re-imagine and construct knowledge for diversity, decentralisation, dynamic adaptation and democracy.The authors critically explore the changes in organizations, research paradigms and professional practice that could help transform and co-create knowledge for a new modernity based on plural definitions of wellbeing. Particular attention is given to institutional, pedagogical and methodological innovations that can enhance cognitive justice by giving hitherto excluded citizens more power and agency in the construction of knowledge. The book thus contributes to the democratization of knowledge and power in the domain of food, environment and society.'This important book shows both how agroecology can democratize knowledge, and how democratizing knowledge in turn is a condition for agroecology to develop. We tend to reduce agroecology to a set of agronomic techniques that reduce the need for external inputs, that de-link food production from energy consumption, and that restore soil health. But it is, more fundamentally, about the direction of knowledge: agroecology operates the shift from top-down "extension" of knowledge by experts delegated by ministries, to a bottom-up approach prioritizing the local knowledge developed by farmers. It is empowering, horizontal, based on trial and error-but it is also, as this volume shows, another way of conceiving science.' -Olivier De Schutter, former UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food (2008-2014), Co-Chair, International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems (IPES-Food), Belgium 'The surge of industrial farming, mega-use of pesticides, and chronic commercialisation which appeared to "grow" the world also created a cascade of painful issues relating to poisoning "Mother Earth", generating inequities, and destroying biodiversity and cultural heritage.This book provides not just insights into those issues but, more importantly, it explores the knowledge and transformative ways of knowing we now need to re-enchant the world. Deepening knowledge democracy is key for reclaiming food sovereignty, rooting agroecology, and promoting biocultural diversity.This book ...

Opportunities and barriers in diversified farming and the use of agroecological principles in the Global North – The experiences of Danish biodynamic farmers

“…What is needed to increase food sovereignty depends on whether farmers are marginalized by the current global agricultural market or trapped in non-agroecological practices due to debt and other path dependencies. In some places barriers are related to land tenure, in others to markets, regulation and subsidies, knowledge production and sharing or a lack of democratic influence (Frison 2016;Gliessman, Friedmann, and Howard 2019;Pimbert 2017a). Agroecology and food sovereignty are concepts that are used by activist movements in the Global South and have been incorporated into federal constitutions in several countries (Pimbert 2017b).…”

“…In some places barriers are related to land tenure, in others to markets, regulation and subsidies, knowledge production and sharing or a lack of democratic influence (Frison 2016;Gliessman, Friedmann, and Howard 2019;Pimbert 2017a). Agroecology and food sovereignty are concepts that are used by activist movements in the Global South and have been incorporated into federal constitutions in several countries (Pimbert 2017b). Organizations in the Global North are also discussing food sovereignty, although it is still a new concept in this part of the world (Higgins 2015) where larger food chains take control of food systems including information and food culture thereby replacing traditional farming knowledge and making sustainable farming less profitable.…”

“…In Denmark there is a strong farm advisory service tradition with an integrated and very important knowledge transfer role (Pedersen 2014). Within the agroecological literature and movement, a lot of agricultural science is accused of reproducing a reductionist paradigm that does not favor a transition to agroecology (Blann and Light 2017). Likewise, the close link between science and advisory services might foster dependency on seeds, chemicals, loans and advice, rather than increase food sovereignty.…”

Transforming Food Systems Through Food Sovereignty: An Australian Urban Context

“…The language of food security, defined as when people have physical and economic access to food that meets people's dietary needs as well as their food preferences (FAO, 2012) emerged from high level policy dialogues (Jarosz, 2011; Pimbert, 2009). While it is commonly present in food debates, focusing on food security perpetuates the idea that food is a commodity to be accessed from markets (Jarosz, 2011; Lee, 2007, 2012).…”

Assessing the Potential and Limitations of Leveraging Food Sovereignty to Improve Human Health

“…Hundreds of millions of indigenous peoples and small-scale peasant farmers have aligned with this movement ( 2 ), and at least two national governments, Ecuador and Bolivia, have outlined explicit policy frameworks centered on food sovereignty ( 3 ). In addition, a rich scholarly literature has emerged that explores the dynamics of this global movement, and its implications for participatory governance, social justice, industrial agricultural, and global trade ( 4 – 6 ).…”