1. From Alternative Agriculture to the Brazilian Policy
for Agroecology
Prof. Irene Maria Cardoso
irene@ufv.br
centro de
tecnologias
alternativas
ZONA DA MATA
Center for Alternative Technologies of Zona da Mata
Federal University of Viçosa
Soil Science Department
Brazilian Association for Agroecology
2. 1. Agroecology as a movement, practice and science.
2. Experiences of agroecology in the Zona da Mata.
3. Brazilian policy for agroecology and organic production.
4. Can agroecology feed the world? Are we asking the correct question?
5. The Netherlands is part of our problem. Is it part of our solution?
Introduction
Soybean production in the CerradoAgroecological production in Atlantic Forest
3. 1.1. Agroecology is a movement
In Brazil, in the end of 70´s and 80´s agroecology started as
alternative agriculture.
Alternative agriculture as a response to the environmental and
social problems created by the Green Revolution technologies
applied to agriculture.
Main actors:
a) agronomists (linked to the Federation of the Agronomist
Associations and the Federation of the Students of Agronomy,
still very active);
1. Agroecology as movement, practice and science
4. b) NGOs and farmer organizations (supported by the Liberation
Theology – Grassroot Eclesial Communities – CEBs, linked mainly to
the Catholic Church).
Linked to the left-wing parties – especially the Labor Party
(founded in 1980).
c) These NGOs formed the network called Rede PTA – Projects for
Alternative Technologies. The network finished in the end of the 90´s.
2002. The ex-Rede PTA and the social movement, founded the
National Articulation of Agroecology (ANA
www.agroecologia.org.br) – a network especially among NGOs,
social movements, and also scientists.
5. It shows that, in Brazil, agroecology started as a movement!
But this movement had and has the farmers and their
organizations as partners.
It means that the movement has its roots in practical
experiences. In Brazil agroecology is developed with the
farmers!
II National Meeting of Agroecology – 2006
III National Meeting of Agroecology in prep. – 2014. Probably in São Paulo.
6. 1.2. Agroecology is a practice
To manage biodiversity and to develop complex
agroecosystems we need farmer´s knowledge
For agroecology:
- A participatory approach is essential.
- On-farm experiments are very important.
- To respect and to value farmer´s knowledge is imperative!
(This is very important to raise the farmer´s self esteem)
8. From the Zona da Mata, 21 experiences are registered in that
website, but we have several hundreds!
It is a practice!
Santa Fé Farm: our
slogan is
agroecology!
9. These experiences and the movement that started in the 80´s,
as alternative agriculture are the basis of the national policy
that we are formulating now.
Some of these experiences have been developed by CTA in
partnership with the farmers organizations and staff of the
Federal University of Viçosa. CTA was part of the Rede-PTA and
is very active in ANA.
10. 1.3. Agroecology is ALSO a science
Agroecology is shortly defined as the science to study, design and
manage agroecosystems.
- Consumers are also included. Nowadays, the definition of
agroecology is towards a larger focus on the entire food system,
defined as a global network of food production, distribution and
consumption (Gliessman, 2007).
- However, agroecology does not study only food systems, but also
the production of energy, wood and fibers. BUT food comes first!
- Moreover, there are boundaries among agroecosystems and among
agroecosystems and the natural ecosystems.
11. 2004. On the scientific side, the Brazilian Association of
Agroecology (ABA) was created (http://www.aba-agroecologia.org.br). ABA
is part of ANA
In 2006, agroecology was officially recognized as a science by
EMBRAPA - the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation. The
referential benchmark for agroecology was published:
(http://www.embrapa.br/publicacoes).
Recently, several technical, undergraduate and graduate courses
on agroecology started in several universities, theses have been
developed, papers published…
12. Therefore, in Brasil, agroecology is a movement, a practice and a
science.
This is supported by Wezel et al., 2009. Agron. Sustain. Dev.
(available on line).
13. 2. Some of the experiences in the Zona da Mata
Foto: CTA
14. Atlantic Rainforest Biome
The atlantic rainforest ranks among the top five biodiversity hotspots
(Myers et al. 2000).
• Nowadays: around 7% of it remains.
• One of the reasons: agriculture
Why to use
monoculture
in such a
biodiverse
biome?
15. Main land use: full-sun coffee and pasture in monoculture.
Managed mainly by family farmers.
forest fragments…
Coffee
pastures
forest fragments…
16. Following the agroecological principles, CTA in partnership with
UFV and small farmers organizations in Zona da Mata,
developed agroforestry systems, using a participatory approach.
17. 1993 - a Participatory Rural Apraisal (PRA) process was
undertaken in Araponga (municipality of Zona da Mata).
One of the biggest problems pointed out by the farmers was the
loss of soil quality – “enfraquecimento das terras”.
Agroforestry Systems
18. The farmers prioritized land use problems and selected a
committee called “terra forte” (strong land) composed of farmers,
staff of the NGO and the Soil Department/UFV to present some
land conservation proposals to overcome the problem.
Foto: arquivos do CTA
19. The committee suggested several practices.
- Most of them common to the farmers:
Ex.: green manure; management of spontaneous
vegetation.
- One not common to the farmers: agroforesty systems
Around 40 experiences (~40 family farmers), in 11 municipalities
(Cardoso et al., 2001 – Agricultural Systems, 69: 235-257)
Agroforestry in Zona da Mata started in 1994
20. Why are trees so important?
- Better use of the environment: above and below ground
coffee
Increase mycorrhizal network in
deeper layer of the soil
Some trees are leguminosae:
rhizobium symbiosis
21. - Attract more associated biodiversity: birds, bees etc.
Associated biodiversity is responsible for many ecosystem services
Why are trees so important?
Photo:ArneJanssen
22. In the green revolution type of agriculture, the ecosystem
services (nutrient cycling, pest controls, soil structure etc.)
were replaced by chemical fertilizers, tillage and pesticides.
The replacement of the environmental services by chemicals is
key to understanding why agriculture, instead of benefiting,
harms biodiversity.
You can decide to be dependent on the biodiversity or on the
industries that produce the external inputs (such as chemicals
and pesticides).
24. We collected 287 arthropods feeding on
extrafloral nectaries of Inga trees. Almost 80%
of the visitors were natural enemies.
Among them, seven different species of
parasites of the coffee leafminer.
Rezende et al., in prep.
Extrafloral nectaries: small pots of
nectar in the petioles
A thrips species was found
visiting extrafloral nectaries. The
thrips was also observed feeding
on coffee berry borers. This was
never reported before.
Inga leaves
25. From 2003 to 2005, CTA, farmers and the Soil Department
systematized the experience with the agroforestry systems, using a
participatory approach (Souza et al., 2012 - Agroforestry Systems 85: 247-
262).
.
- Farmers were visited and interviewed and
we organized several meetings with the
farmers
Meeting at CTA
Meeting in the community
Meeting at the University
Interview
26. Pasture with trees
During the systematization, we concentrated on agroforestry coffee
systems. But we also have experiences with pasture and trees.
27. A diversified tree stratum
(native trees and fruit
trees);
A bush stratum (coffee and
others – fruit trees);
A herbaceous stratum,
(leguminosae, spontaneous
vegetation, edible plants
etc).
Agroforestry coffee systems
28. The farmers pointed out the criteria to selected the trees to
intercrop with coffee
Souza et al., 2010. Agroforestry Systems 80: 1-16
29. (sampling root of S. macranthera for
Loes Mertens, to screen for mycorrhiza)
How to avoid competition for water and nutrients?
Rhizosphere: fine roots of coffee concentrated in the top 20 cm of
the soil; fine roots of Senna macranthera found below 40 cm.
60 cm
S. macranthera
30. How to avoid competition for light without
pruning?
Coffee is from deciduous forest in
Ethiopia. Coffee needs more light exactly
when the trees loose their leaves.
We are in a region of semi-evergreen
forest.
It means that some of our trees loose their
leaves in the dry season, exactly when
coffee needs more light. Thus, no need for
pruning the crown of those trees – it means
less labour.
With full sun coffee we are not benefing
from the characteristics of our native trees
and coffee plants.Aegiphila sellowiana:
deciduous species from the
Atlantic Forest
31. The farmers pointed out 85 tree species compatible with coffee,
which can be used in the agroforestry systems. Among them, Senna
macranthera and Inga subnuda (Souza et al. 2010, Agroforestry Systems
80: 1-16).
51. We studied senescent materials of some species. Inga subnuda and
Senna macranthera had the highest content of nutrients. However,
Inga produced more recalcitrant litter (highest (LG+PP)/N and LG/N
ratios). Therefore, lower decomposition rate (Duarte et al., in press).
Senna macranthera flowering
The residues of Senna release the nutrients
faster than those of Inga.
52. Inga gives more soil protection than Senna.
Residues of Inga subnuda
53. Therefore, to profit from Inga and Senna, we have to have both in
the systems: biodiversity! BUT Inga and Senna are only two of the
85!
Mix of leaves and fruits of Inga and Senna in agroforestry coffee systems
Fruit of SennaFruit of Inga
54. We do our best to study and to scale up the systems
together with the family farmers and their organizations!
55. We are following, with adapation, the methodology called
peasant to peasant (Rosset et al., 2011), we promote meetings
with the farmers on their properties, to observe and analyse their
ecosystems.
Besides the family farmers, students, researchers, agronomists,
professors attend these meetings
56. In these meetings,
everybody learns.
From these meetings
arises the demands of
the farmers and
questions of the
researchers;
We also answers
research questions.
58. Once per year we have a regional meeting with farmers at the
University. More than 200 farmers attend these meetings.
59. If everything is so nice, why don’t we have more farmers involved?
To scale up these experiences is the main challenge nowadays
(De Schutter, 2011 - Report submitted by the Special Rapporteur on the right
to food, United Nations).
For that, appropriate public policies are necessary. The policies
can create an enabling environment for such sustainable modes
of production (De Schutter, 2011).
What is happening in this respect in Brazil?
In 2011, during the discussion of the New Forest Code the
Environmental Ministry and ANA (National Articulation for
Agroecology) started talking about the national policy for
agroecology.
3. Brazilian policy for agroecology and organic production
60. 2012. The Marcha das Margaridas (The Peasant Women
demonstration in Brasília) asked Dilma (our presidenta) to launch
the national policy for agroecology – she agreed.
Foto usada em cartaz da Contag. Cedido por Sara Pimenta
61. We solve political problems
with a political decision, not
with a technical or with a
scientific solution.
DILMA (our presidenta) talking to the women!
Foto: arquivos da Contag. Cedido por Sara Pimenta
Foto: arquivos da Contag. Cedido por Sara Pimenta
62. Because of the experiences all around Brazil, ANA was invited to give
inputs to the national policy for agroecology and organic production.
For ANA to give their inputs, the environmental ministry supported:
Five regional meetings – according to our main biomes – and a
national meeting.
More than 300 people participated in the six
meetings. These people were representative
of the social movement (Landless, Unions,
Women, ABA, ANA etc).
A document was produced.
A seminar was organized to deliver and to
discuss the document with the government.
63. The government elaborated a first draft
of the policy.
Another seminar was organized to
discuss the draft.
August 2012: the policy was launched.
One good point: recognize and support
the use of landrace seeds.
Two bad points: disconsider the land
concentration and water controls
problems.
“The only thing that I want is a small piece of land to produce food! I am crazy about having
a small piece of land” (coffee sharecropper from Araponga - Brazil
64. (IBGE, 2006)
Total of farms: 4367902 Total Area
Family Farmers
Other farmers
Family
Farmers
Other farmers
Family agriculture receives only 25% of the credits,
produces 70% of our food!
Family Agriculture x Industrial Agriculture in Brazil
65. With the policy, the way was paved, but the process did not stop.
Only the law is no garantee for actions and money.
The policy has to be followed by a national plan for agroecology
and organic production.
To formulate the plan
two comittees were
created.
a) Comittee formed by the
government staff:
Four ministries are
involved (to elaborate
the plan).
66. b) Comittee formed by the civil society:
26 participants from 23 organizations, among them Landless, Rural
Unions, Women movement, ABA, ANA...) - to evaluate and give
inputs to the plan.
- We are working on the plan now; we hope to launch it in April.
This is the first time that
the social movements are
getting together to
formulate an agro-
ecological policy.
This is already considered
a good result of the
policy.
Foto: secretaria da presidência
67. Remember: from 30-50% of the produced food is lost (Institution of
Mechanical Engineers, UK).
Remember: a food system is defined as a global network of food
production, distribution and consumption (Gliessman, 2007).
I will quickly give you an example to illustrate why I think we are
not asking the right question
4. Can agroecology feed the world? Are we asking the correct
question?
68. Amazon
Atlantic Forest
Cerrado
Cerrado
14th hotspot of biodiversity (Myers et al., 2000).
A biodiverse savanna ecoregion (Brannstrom et al., 2008).
The size of Spain,
France, Germany, Italy
and UK together (WWF,
2012).
This biome is in rapid
decline because of the
expansion of modern
agriculture (Brannstrom et
al., 2008).
Since 1950, 40% of the cerrado was converted to agriculture
(WWF, 2012).
70. 82% of the soybeans is produced in Mato Grosso, Goiás (both
cerrado), Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul (both Atlantic Forest).
Most soybeans are exported.
Most soybeans are genetically modified (GMO).
Soybeans account for 45% of the pesticide consumption.
71. Via Campesina campaign against the
use of pesticides in Brazil
On average we consume around 5
litres of pesticides per year per
person.
Lucas do Rio Verde is a municipality
in Mato Grosso, where the main
acitivity is agriculture, especially
soybeans. Mothers‘ milk is
contaminated with pesticides
Pesticide kills
Until when will we swallow this?
72. The Netherlands
is our second
importer of
soybeans (46%).
Mainly for food
for the animals.
To produce soybeans, we need fertilizer. Brazil imports around
70% of N and 50% of P. More than 90% of the K. Is our agriculture
sustainable? Is the Dutch agriculture sustainable?
Some scientists are arguing that the source of P will finish in 50-
100 years (Cordell et al., 2009: Global Environmental Change 19: 292–305).
Our main source of P is Maroc.
5.1. The Netherland is part of our problem
Also for cows – picture from The Netherlands – Jan 2013
Photo: Ana Paula CamposPhoto: Ana Paula Campos
73. Thus:
Maroc Brazil The Netherlands
P Soybeans
Who is feeding whom? Is Maroc feeding Brasil or The Netherlands?
Feed animals, including cows
Soybeans
Produce cheese
In our supermaket, the Dutch cheese is 20 reals less expensive
than the same type of cheese from Brasil.
The farmers of Minas Gerais can not sell their cheese: produced
with unpasteurized milk (as in France...)
Are we really worried about feeding the world????
74. Is it a matter of production to feed the world or to feed the food
empire?
Who has to feed whom?
Is it a task of The Netherlands to feed the world? (Such a small
country!)
Is it a task of Brazil to feed the world? (Such a big country!)
How about food security and sovereignty? Is it not better to work for
each country to feed itself?
75. Family Agriculture produces 70% of the food that reaches the
Brazilian tables!
If it is a matter of food security and food sovereignty, should we
Brazilians invest in soybeans to export?
(IBGE, 2006)
76. 5.2. Can The Netherlands be part of our solution?
China (18%) is the first importer of Brazilian agricultural
products.
The Netherlands is second (6,3%).
Together with Belgium, it imports more than 80% of
our orange juice (produced in the Atlantic forest
biome)
Important importer of our coffee (Atlantic forest
biome)
Conclusion: you Dutch are eating our cerrado and drinking our Atlantic
Forest!
78. Dutch organizations comprimised themselves to invest € 7 millions
to garantee that 100% of soy used in the food production in The
Netherlands will be produced in a responsible way by 2015 (WWF,
2012).
What is a responsible way????
79. I also believe in Sinterklaas!
http://www.responsiblesoy.org/
Birds do not use any protective equipment!
80. You cannot solve the problem with the same kind of thinking
that created the problem
Albert Einstein
I would like to ask the Dutch Scientists of Wageningen University:
Please, reformulate your questions!
Is it really a matter of feeding the world?
81. Bedankt
Thank you!
Obrigada!
“For agroecology we need wisdom to work and patience to wait...”
Dadinho (agroecological farmer – Pedra Dourada – Minas Gerais).
Farmer´s
Organizations