The Agroecology in Latin America: A Brief Review

Francisco Salmeron-Miranda¹, Zamora E.², Del Cura F.³, and Gonzálvez V.⁴

1. Latin American Scientific Society of Agroecology, National Agrarian University (UNA), Managua, Nicaragua

2. Sustainable Agriculture Advisory Group (GAAS), Managua, Nicaragua

3. Territorial Polytechnic University of Mérida Kléber Ramírez (UPTM-KR), Venezuela

4. Spanish Society of Ecological Agriculture/Agroecology (SEAE), Spain

Abstract: Over the course of the history Agroecology has been advocated by different actors, contexts and challenges. This paper analyzes the evolution of the Agroecology in Latin American countries, their actors and impacts on society. Early in the 80s, the ideas related to Agroecology were dispersed and came from other approaches such as sustainable and organic agriculture in most of the Latin American countries. The pioneers of Agroecology, inspired by the indigenous and farmer knowledge, supported to the local actors through intensive campaigns of training, e.g., seminars, conferences, workshops, research and PhD programs with high impact in the Latin American countries. The analysis of the current challenges of the Agroecology shows that are in different state of development according to the context of each country. Brazil, Cuba, Uruguay and Nicaragua show the more advance institutionalization of Agroecology in term of public policies. It might be due to that the agenda to promote the Agroecology is more related to the food system rather than focus on the agricultural sector.

Key words: agroecology, Latin America, food system