Agroecology, just like Organic Agriculture in Europe, belongs to the huge amount of approaches, which aim to perform agriculture in a more sustainable way. The Agroecology movement, as it is named by the famous agronomist and agroecological expert Altieri, has its origins in Latin America. The approach of Agroecology is integrating ecological measures and traditional knowledge into the farming system, aiming to perform agriculture in a more sustainable and also to attain food sovereignty and food security. Regarding to the sheer size of Latin America, several regions are subdivided by having their own sub-movement. By focussing on Costa Rica as part of Central America, this case study aims to give a proper understanding how the Central American movement works. The sub-movement in Central America is called the farmer-to-farmer movement. Here, knowledge and technology are passed on between several farmers within one region, seeing themselves as peer. Trainers, so called promotors are installed, are doing the preparatory work, as they are the link between knowledge and the soon-to-be Agroecological farmers. Workshops are held, and a pre-structuring is given, to enable and simplify the application of Agroecology. CAC can be rather seen as a key methodology, having its origins in Central America. For the Agroecological farmers, the CAC approach is not to be categorised nowhere near Agroecology. CAC is just a method, whereas the farmers are practicing Agroecology as a philosophy. Their philosophy is including culture, traditional practices and community living, together with exchange and political advocacy. Public instruments and structures are not given solely for Agroecology, but for several sustainable agriculture approaches together. A law on Organic Agriculture was implemented in 2007. Organic Agriculture should not be equated to Agroecology. NGOs and public bodies, that are working on the field of sustainable agricultural approaches, are aiming to unite all different systems, e.g. Agroecology and Organic Agriculture. NGOs are aiming mostly for political power, coming with one big movement, while the government is rather interested in the economic aspects of a huge sustainable production. To the farmers, Organic Agriculture was introduced to be a way to gain price premiums, by just adding seals to their product.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction [along with Tainná Viana]
2. Methodology
3. General information about Costa Rica
4. Agroecology
4.1. Farmer-to-farmer movement
4.2. Agroecology in Costa Rica
4.2.1. The farmers’ point of view
4.2.2. The governmental organisations’ point of view
4.2.3. The non-governmental organisations’ point of view
4.2.4. Examples
5. Organic Agriculture in Costa Rica
5.1. History
5.2. Organic Agriculture in Costa Rica
6. Discussion
7. Conclusion & outlook
8. References
9. Annex
Objectives & Core Themes
This work aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the agroecology movement in Latin America, focusing specifically on its structures, actors, and development in Costa Rica. It explores the interplay between traditional knowledge, farmer-to-farmer exchanges, and formal agricultural policies.
- Evolution and methodology of the farmer-to-farmer (CAC) movement.
- Comparative analysis of agroecology versus organic agriculture in Costa Rica.
- Perspectives and interests of key actors: farmers, governmental institutions, and NGOs.
- Integration of agroecological practices into sustainable development models.
- Challenges of market access, certification, and institutional support for small-scale producers.
Excerpt from the Book
4.2. Agroecology in Costa Rica
Regarding environment aspects, Costa Rica is a country of extreme opposites. It is considered to be a pioneer of Organic Agriculture in Latin America and a role model in ecological measures. On the other hand, Costa Rica is also the world’s largest conventional pineapple exporter. Conservation efforts and national parks are alternating with vast landscapes of pineapple or palm oil plantations (PROCOMER 2016). The SAPs and the regarding economic forces in the early 1990’s changed the scenario of agriculture and its structure in Costa Rica completely (Vargas Garro 2018).
Similar to the Green Revolution in the 60’s and 70’s, big plantations and mono-cultural intensive cultivation dominated the landscape. The use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides characterised the Costa Rican agriculture in the late 1990’s. Costa Rican farmers were strongly affected by the industrialisation, either to set their aim to agricultural exports and to fulfil the high-yielding global agri-business dynamics, or to not be able to ensure their livelihood by farming anymore (Vargas Garro 2018).
The need for counter movements like Agroecology was growing bigger during the 90’s, since many farmers were opposing the development to a more intensive agriculture. Agroecology, even though it entered Costa Rica nearly at the same time as in Nicaragua, developed in a minor scale. Agroecology in Costa Rica has not received the necessary public support in its early phase, like it did in Nicaragua, since the agricultural sector at the time was expected to go into a different direction (Vargas Garro 2018, Banco Central de Costa Rica 2016). However, the minor distribution of the movement is not automatically implying a qualitative difference between the Agroecology practicing farmers in Costa Rica and in the adjacent countries. The Agroecology movement in Costa Rica can therefore still be seen as representative to whole Central America.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction [along with Tainná Viana]: Outlines the origins of the agroecology movement in Latin America and introduces the case study comparison between Brazil and Costa Rica.
2. Methodology: Describes the literature-based research approach and the use of expert interviews to capture local agroecological dynamics.
3. General information about Costa Rica: Provides an overview of Costa Rica's socioeconomic development, its ecological trends, and the state of its agricultural sector.
4. Agroecology: Explores the political and social aspects of the agroecology movement, specifically detailing the farmer-to-farmer methodology and local perspectives in Costa Rica.
5. Organic Agriculture in Costa Rica: Analyzes the history and market development of organic agriculture, including the role of government regulations and certification bodies.
6. Discussion: Compares the motivations, technical approaches, and institutional challenges faced by farmers, government bodies, and NGOs within the agricultural landscape.
7. Conclusion & outlook: Evaluates the initial hypothesis, concluding that agroecology serves as a vital, sustainable method for future agricultural resilience beyond mere political movement.
Keywords
Agroecology, Organic Agriculture, Costa Rica, Farmer-to-farmer, CAC, Sustainability, Sustainable Development, Small-scale Farmers, MAELA, COPROALDE, Food Sovereignty, Agricultural Policy, Biodiversity, Certification, Rural Development.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper examines the Agroecology movement in Latin America, with a specific focus on the social, political, and technical structures within Costa Rica's agricultural system.
What are the central thematic fields covered?
The work covers the farmer-to-farmer (CAC) methodology, the development of organic agriculture, environmental conservation, and the conflicting interests between small-scale producers and industrial agro-business.
What is the primary goal of the study?
The primary goal is to contribute to a better understanding of how the agroecology movement works in practice and how it relates to broader concepts like food security and sustainable development.
Which scientific methodology was applied?
The research is a case study based on extensive literature review, database analysis, and an expert interview with an academic specializing in rural development and agroecology in Central America.
What topics are analyzed in the main body?
The main body treats the history and institutionalization of agroecology, the perspectives of farmers versus governmental and non-governmental actors, and a comparison between sustainable agroecology and conventional organic farming.
Which keywords define this work?
Key terms include Agroecology, Organic Agriculture, Farmer-to-farmer (CAC), Costa Rica, sustainable development, small-scale producers, and institutional policies.
How does the author define the role of the "promotores" in the CAC movement?
Promotores act as the fundamental base of the agroecological movement, serving as trainers who facilitate the horizontal transfer of knowledge and technology between farmers to improve soil fertility and yields.
Why does the author argue that agroecology is particularly suited for small-scale farmers in Costa Rica?
Unlike organic agriculture, which often requires expensive certification and adherence to rigid industrial market standards, agroecology focuses on community knowledge, local resources, and food sovereignty, making it more accessible and sustainable for smallholders.
- Quote paper
- Moritz Stüber (Author), 2018, The Agroecology Movement in Costa Rica. Aims, Actors, Structures and Relation to Organic Agriculture, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/444909
