Session 12 Environment, Sustainability and Agroecology for SYAL

Session 12
Environment, Sustainability and Agroecology for SYAL
Convenors
Florence Tartanac (FAO), Gloria Rótolo (INTA), Emilie Vandecandelaere (FAO), Stéphane Bellon
(INRA)
Although not a recent approach for practitioners in the field, the support for agroecology is growing
both in science and in policy circles, because it is increasingly recognized as an sustainable approach
that will help address the challenges of food security and malnutrition, given the current pressures
on the environment that are imposed by climate change. This was one of the key messages of the
Symposium of agroecology organized by FAO in 2014.
Agroecology does not have a singular definition, but can represent a framework for action that
proposes the transition from conventional agricultural production to sustainable agro-food systems
through the application of concepts, tools and practices of the principles of ecology. Other
approaches to agroecology, built on social movements, highlight the importance of food sovereignty
in the principles and thus the anchorage at territorial level. The declaration of the International
Forum for agroecology in 2015 mentions: “our diverse forms of smallholder food production based
on agroecology generate local knowledge, promote social justice, nurture identity and culture, and
strengthen the economic viability of rural areas”. Although not yet fully analyzed, the markets that
are developed to support agroecological production systems also seem more localized, with
development of alternative markets built on direct communication about quality, interpersonal
exchange, reciprocity and social networks. Such market opportunities are particularly relevant for
specific quality products and for small-scale and family producers.
Therefore, the concepts of agroecology and SYAL have a lot to share and can nurture each other in
relation to more than the three sustainability dimensions of localized food systems, while raising
specific questions for research.
Contributions are welcome on the following topics:
 Links between agroecology and local food, traditional food, short Supply chain, territorial
tevelopment, PDO and PGI
 Governance and institutional arrangements in localized agroecological systems; links
between territory and agroecology
 The markets for products originating from agroecological systems, characterization,
specificity, links with territories and local food systems;
 The roles of key actors in developing/up -scaling agroecological food systems (farmers,
researchers, public authorities, consumers)
 Cost and benefits analysis; value redistribution
 Consumers perception and willingness to pay for products originating from agroecological
systems
The vulnerability of Mediterranean beekeeping to global
environmental change
Feliu López-i-Gelats, Marta Guadalupe Rivera-Ferre; Virginia Vallejo-Rojas; Maria Antonieta ReyBolan͂ os.
Agroecology and Food Systems Chair
Inclusive Societies, Policies and Communities Research Group
Environment & Food Dpt. - Faculty of Sciences and Technology
University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia, C/ de la Laura 13, 08500 Vic (Spain)
martaguadalupe.rivera@uvic.cat
feliu.lopez@uvic.cat
Abstract
Beekeeping is a natural resource management system well spread all over the world and specifically
in the Mediterranean region. However, recently a set of climate and non-climate changes and trends
are decimating both bees and beekeeping. The examination of the vulnerability of beekeeping to
global environmental change is of a major relevance not only due to the pollination services
provided by bees (FAO estimates that out of some 100 crop species which provide 90% of food
worldwide, 71 of these are bee-pollinated); but also because the short life cycle of bees, and insects
in general, make them particularly suitable to monitor changes. Several studies have highlighted
different factors leading the bees’ decline that have been observed in the last decades. To provide a
global picture of the vulnerability of beekeeping to global environmental change in the
Mediterranean regions, in this paper we consider the opinions and experiences of beekeepers and
technicians of three regions of Spain (Andalusia, Valencia and Catalonia), considering the exposure
of this activity to climate and non-climate drivers, the impact of these changes, and finally the
strategies individual beekeeping exploitations and the whole sector undertake to adapt to the
emerging conditions. A total of 30 interviews with beekeepers and 2 focus groups with beekeeping
technicians were conducted. The study revealed the multifactorial character of the vulnerability of
Mediterranean beekeeping, with pesticides’ intoxications, emerging pathologies, climate trends and
public policies playing key roles. In contrast, it also pointed the increasing awareness of governments
and consumers of the fundamental services provided by bees and beekeepers in terms of pollination
and healthy products; as well as the increasing awareness of beekeepers of the need to undertake a
management of the bees more based on prophylaxis rather than therapeutics.
Palopuro Agroecological Symbiosis: Local Sustainable Food and
Farming Development Project
Kari Koppelmäki, Sophia Albov & Juha Helenius, University of Helsinki
Elina Virkkunen, LUKE Natural Resources Institute Finland
Graedel (1996, Graedel & Allenby 1996) defined industrial ecology as a form of production in which
use of energy and material flows resemble those in natural ecosystems. Following this idea, Chertow
(2000) suggested, by including the aspect of spatial scale of the operation, that industrial symbiosis
(IS) is a form of operation in which the partners of the symbiosis are located in geographical
proximity, to allow for localized co-evolution. Palopuro Agroecological Symbiosis (Fig. 1) is being
developed as an IS for farming and food sector.
Knehtilä Farm is at the center of a cooperative food production system based on energy and nutrient
self-sufficiency. This multi-enterprise network, located in Hyvinkää, is the first of its kind in Finland. It
aims to produce local, organic food using bioenergy and recycled nutrients. This cooperative will
serve as a model for organic food production and processing which is truly energy and nutrient selfsufficient
Knehtilä Farm, the winner of the 2015 environmentally friendly farm competition, has developed a
network of several organic producers and processors. In the integrated system, the grain from the
fields would be milled in Knehtilä, and baked to bread by Samsara, an organic bakery which has
established its operations on the farm. Energy from gas charred using local, low-value wood as
feedstock would be used for both the drying and milling of the grain, as well as for the ovens of the
bakery. The losses from milling and baking would be used as feed for hens in the neighboring
henhouse which is producing organic eggs for the bakery. Biomass from green manuring leys in
Knehtilä’s organic crop rotation combined with the hens’ manure and manure from local horse
stables would be processed by anaerobic digestion. The result would be biogas, used for running the
farm machinery and for local sale to passenger cars. The effluent, the nutrient-rich produce from
digester, as well as the biochar produced as by-product in making gas by charring, would be used as
organic fertilizer and soil conditioner in the farm fields. With this system the biomass loops are
closed and the cooperative is able to operate in a sustainable manner. The aim is that this model will
be reproduced by other farms around Finland. Cooperation in this manner could be the answer to a
sustainable and vibrant organic sector in Finland.
The idea driving this co-operative is to locally recycle the nutrient flows generated in the production,
and fully utilize the bioenergy potential in the biomass flows. This system of producing organic food
which considers all aspects of production and strives for maximum sustainability at every step of the
production and process. By recycling the organic materials, minus the energy used for farming
operations and for food processing, there is an inherent increase in soil productivity and health. This
system also conserves natural resources and reduces nutrient loading to the Baltic Sea which will
help to take the stress off of the ecosystem.
Transformation of Small-scale Fisheries – Critical Transdisciplinary
Challenges and Possibilities
Fred Saunders1, Gloria L. Gallardo F.2, Truong Van Tuyen3, Serge Raemaekers4, Boguslaw Marciniak5
and Rodrigo Díaz Plá.6
Key words: Small-scale fisheries (SSF); participation; social change; political ecology; real utopias; codesign; transdisciplinary research
Abstract
One way to confront the global marginalisation of small-scale fisheries (SSF) is to support a
sustainable transformation of these coastal communities. In 2014/15, a network of researchers and
SSF communities from four countries cooperated in a transdisciplinary research approach to
examine governance shifts, fish stock collapses, power structures, future visions and transformation
strategies. We combined a political ecology approach with transformation theory to: (i) consider
how local context is affected by structural changes and (ii) identify place-based transformational
strategies for each case. The global emergence of large-scale fisheries and associated free markets
appeared as key factors negatively affecting SSF and coastal sustainability. Through envisioning
exercises and context dependent analysis, SSF communities articulated possible and actual
strategies towards sustainability that will require ongoing support.
De-localizing agri-food systems – governance, livelihoods and
vulnerability - The case of El Alfalfal, Cajón del Maipo (Chile)
Author: Paulina Rytkönen, Associated Professor, PhD, Södertörn University. Paulina.rytkonen@sh.se
The small village of El Alfalfal is located in the Cordillera province (Mountain range) outside the city
of Santiago. Over centuries, villagers have been an active part in traditional mountain agriculture,
with transhumance as its main feature. Transhumance in the area is composed by the arrieros
(Chilean cowboys) who moved from location to location during the summer in search for pastures
for their horses or other meat cattle; by high altitude sheep breeding, by goat breeding and goat
cheese production; and by bee-keeping. These activities, have not only been part a localized agrifood system, they (and especially the arrieros) are also important historical and cultural symbols in
the construction of the Chilean nation. It is why this area has been constantly targeted by ecotourists
who seek to exchange their city life, for a few hours or days in the wilderness.
But over the years, changing legislation and industrialization elsewhere in the country, has led to
successive investments in hydroplants, which is rapidly destroying the possibility to survive on
traditional economic activities. In fact, the impact over nature is so profound, that not only
livelihoods are endangered, also wildlife and the unique local vegetation is challenged. An important
question is: How is this possible? Is this just a case of extractive dilemma? And, which are the real
consequences of current changes? Through an institutional analysis based on fieldwork conducted in
2015, this article offers a partial answer to these questions.
Innovaciones, sinergias y conflictos en la dinámica de desarrollo
territorial en Bahía occidental
Cláudia de Souza1 e Claire Marie Thuillier Cerdan2
1
Universidad de Brasília, Brasil/ pasantía doctoral en Centre de coopération internationale en
recherche agronomique pour le développement (CIRAD), Montpellier, França;
2
CIRAD, França/UMR Innovation.
Palabras clave: Innovaciones; sistemas agroalimentarios; Cerrado; los agricultores familiares.
Resumen
El artículo ofrece una visión general de algunos de los primeros resultados de un estudio de tesis
vinculado el Programa de Postgrado Centro de Desarrollo Sostenible de la Universidad de Brasilia,
con el apoyo de Capes/Embrapa/Fundación Agropolis en un Programa de Financiamiento de FrancoBrazilian (Edital tripartita AF- Brasil, Número 2014-2). Las unidades de análisis fueron dos
comunidades situado en los alrededores del Refugio de Vida Silvestre Veredas do Oeste Baiano
(RVS), Bahía occidental, una de las regiones del Cerrado. El análisis se basa en un modelo que tiene
en cuenta la transformación histórica y la actual diversidad de sistemas de producción, la integración
de los sistemas de producción en las diferentes estrategias económicas de los hogares, la proporción
de los residentes en las comunidades con los propietarios de las fincas agroindustriales y el uso la
base de recursos naturales del cerrado. Los autores caracterizan los múltiples efectos de la dinámica
procesados en Bahía occidental, en términos de crecimiento económico, la inclusión social, (no) la
mejora de la bio / diversidad social y también de (no) la viabilidad socio-ecológica. Al principio, las
principales características de Bahía occidental se asignan, teniendo en cuenta los profundos cambios
que han marcado su evolución en las últimas décadas. A continuación se muestran (i) la dinámica
zona de convivencia; y (ii) los factores explicativos de esta dinámica, en virtud de la especificidad de
los antecedentes de la trayectoria de desarrollo occidental de Bahía. El texto pone de relieve la
relación de sinergia/adicción/competencia entre esas dinámicas y reúne pruebas que demuestran
que este fenómeno ha favorecido el surgimiento de nuevas coaliciones, las nuevas propuestas de
iniciativas públicas o privadas, la posibilidad de proyectos colectivos y dinámicas territoriales híbrido.
En este sentido, los autores identifican la necesidad de medidas para aprovechar el patrimonio
cultural, en un proceso destinado a mejorar las oportunidades para la inclusión socio-económica y
socio-política de las comunidades tradicionales de la agricultura familiar en la región del cerrado,
Bahía occidental. Por último, señalar que: 1. innovaciones generadas por estas familias sufren
cambios en las unidades familiares y la producción en un contexto de escasez de tierra y mano de
obra , las restricciones medioambientales, la diversificación de los ingresos de los hogares y los
cambios en la organización de la producción; 2. políticas de desarrollo territorial rural, actualmente
en curso en otras regiones, tienen que apuntar en ese lugar para el desarrollo de iniciativas locales y
una verdadera comunidad cívica.
Agroecology, local food system and their markets
Allison Loconto, Emilie Vandecandelaere
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations’ (FAO) symposium on Agroecology in
2014 highlighted the importance of agro-ecological practices in the development of sustainable food
systems, particularly for its contributions to the sustainability of family and traditional farming
systems. While not stabilized and covering a large range of approaches, agroecology has received a
lot of attention based on the agronomic practices and the ecosystem services that this approach to
farming provides. Yet, the idea of a food system necessarily calls for looking at the ways in which
production practices meet consumption practices, as is highlighted in farming systems research
(Darnhofer, Gibbon and Dedieu, 2012). If we consider that the value of the global market for organic
certified products reached USD63.8 billion in 2013 (Willer and Lernoud, 2014), it is clear that there
are larger markets for the products that come from production following agroecological principles.
Indeed, organic third-party certification is not the only way – and perhaps not the most adapted to
agro-ecological food systems grounded on small-scale production – through which the products and
services from agro-ecological production can be valorized. There are a variety of ways through which
the value of agroecological products can be determined, particularly through the creation of a
diversity of market channels through which products can move from producers to consumers.
Moreover, the valuing process may be dependent on the type of agroecology which is implemented.
In this paper, we examine this latter phenomenon and ask: are there markets for ‘agroecological’
products and what forms to they take?
Based on qualitative analysis of 12 case studies from different initiatives in developing countries, we
focused on how different types of actors (producers, consumers and intermediaries) to create
markets for agroecological products. Preliminary results show that interesting marketing channels
are being established locally to connect small-scale producers to local and urban consumers thanks
to knowledge intermediaries (public institutions, market actors or consumers association). We find
around 20 different market channels are used to sell ‘agroecological’ products and the type of
business model, whether participatory, inclusive or financially efficient, is important to how actors
strategically diversify their markets.
The value chains are rather short (2-3 links), even when products are destined for export markets.
The main values defined for agroecology and searched for by actors relate to health and
organoleptic characteristics of agroecological products, thus indicating that there is not a clear
demand for ‘agroecological’ products per se. Consumers play an active role in the valuation,
specifically in the negotiation of both quality and price. These networks are rather inclusive and the
consumers’ perceive them generally as fair. Scaling up and scaling out were both seen as necessary,
specifically in terms of quantity and variety of products and the types of actors involved in the
initiatives.