Agroecology as a Philosophy of Life

Dana James (), Rebecca Wolff and Hannah Wittman
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Dana James: The University of British Columbia
Rebecca Wolff: The University of British Columbia
Hannah Wittman: The University of British Columbia

Agriculture and Human Values, 2023, vol. 40, issue 4, No 4, 1437-1450

Abstract: Abstract Use of the term “agroecology” has greatly increased over the past few decades, with scholars, civil society actors, and intergovernmental organizations identifying agroecology as a promising pathway for realizing more just and sustainable food systems. Using a community-engaged approach, we explore how diverse agroecological actors in southern Brazil describe and define agroecology. We find that across a range of social differences, agroecological actors come together in describing agroecology as a philosophy of life that promotes well-being, positioning agroecology as a counter-narrative to global discourses on “development” that promote economic growth and productivism as the path to a good life. Our findings suggest that the practice of agroecology can enhance diverse rural peoples’ well-being by providing a pathway to overcoming alienation, commodification, and exploitation, although broader political-economic conditions constrain this potential. As socioecological crises continue to accelerate and undermine human and environmental health and well-being, the capacity for agroecology to promote wellness from various ontological and epistemological positions warrants further attention.

Keywords: Agroecology; Food sovereignty; Well-being; Health; Brazil (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1007/s10460-023-10455-1

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