Presentation from Irene Cardoso, Professor at the Federal University of Viçosa (Brazil), describing experiences with, and benefits of Agroecology in Brazil. The presentation was prepared and delivered in occasion of the International Symposium on Agroecology for Food Security and Nutrition, held at FAO in Rome on 18-19 September 2014.

1. Federal University of Viçosa
Soil Science Department
People managing landscapes and watersheds:
agroecology and social processes
Prof. Irene Maria Cardoso
irene@ufv.br
ZONA DA MATA
centro de
tecnologias
alternativas
Center for Alternative Technologies of Zona da Mata
Brazilian Association for Agroecology

2. Some of our experiences with agroecology
We are in the Zona da Mata, Minas Gerais State, 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.

3. forest fragments…
forest fragments…
Coffee
forest fragments…
pastures
forest fragments…
Coffee
pastures
Agricultural matrix: full-sun coffee and pasture in
monoculture. Managed mainly by family farmers.

4. São Joaquim Watershed (Araponga – MG): 1100 ha, 15 % forest,
33% pasture; 21% coffee (5% agroforest); 50 springs; 81
properties (36% agroecological or in transition, around 300 ha);
Fortes, 2008. Identificação do uso da terra sob manejo agroecológico.

5. Participatory Rural Apraisal - PRA
1993 - a PRA was
undertaken in Araponga
(including São Joaquim
watershed), by CTA in
partnership with UFV and
small-farmers
organizations.
One of the biggest problems pointed
out by the farmers was the loss of soil
quality – “enfraquecimento das terras”.

6. 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
formulate some land conservation proposals to overcome the
problem.
Foto: arquivos do CTA

7. Agroforestry Systems
The committee suggested
several practices.
Most of them common to
the farmers: green
manure; management of
spontaneous vegetation.
One not common to the
farmers: agroforesty
systems
In 1994, we started around 40 experiences (~40 family
farmers), with agroforestry systems following
participatory approaches, in 11 municipalities, including
the São Joaquim watershed (Cardoso et al., 2001 – Agricultural
Systems, 69: 235-257).

8. 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

9. Since the beginning these COMPLEX systems have been
studied, nowadays more intensely.
Pollinization and natural control
Floristic studies
Soil quality
Nutrient cycling Erosion

10. Diversification of the
production
Papaya
Some results
Coffee
60 products + coffee
Coffee
Products bought by the family

11. For the family!
Banana

12. For the animals...
Avocado

13. For the wild animals...
Eaten papaya
Eaten avocado

14. For the Market. More diversified production, with lower
Souza et al., 2010
costs and more profit
D
D
D

15. Rezende et al. (2014) 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.
A thrips species was found
visiting extrafloral nectaries.
The thrips was also observed
feeding on coffee berry borers.
This was never reported
before.
Rezende et al., (2014) Agric.
Ecos. and Environm. 188:198-203
Extrafloral nectaries: small
pots of nectar on the
petioles
Inga leaves

16. In another experiment, Rezende
et al. (in preparation) found
that the association of coffee
with inga resulted in heavier
coffee fruits; a bit higher
coffee production; fewer bored
fruits ...
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
Coffee fruit weight
Control
Inga
***
*
2013 2014
5
4
3
2
1
0
2013 2014
0.4
Coffee production 0
0.3
0.2
0.1
2013 2014
Proportion of bored fruits
*
.
Control
Inga
Rezende et al. in prep.

17. 0.3
0.2
0.1
0
0 10 20 30 40 50
Proportion mined leaves
Time [weeks]
control
inga
F1,201= 13.5, P= 0.0003
......and fewer mined leaves.

18. Wood: due to the management:
fire wood, small constructions, fences...
Low branch was cut to
allow more light and air
into the pasture

19. Water
The water in this farm was not enough for 2 families.
Nowadays, it is enough for 7 families and there is water left.

20. Degraded land...

21. … changed into this lush vegetation in 15 years.

22. These farms are located in the São Joaquim Watershed.
The land was bought trough the solidary agrarian reform
(called “the joint conquer of land”), started in 1989 and
organized by the farmer’s Union.
The Farmer´s Union was organized in 1989.
Nowadays: More than 200 families acquired land
through the solidary agrarian reform

23. Family Agricultural School Cooperative
The farmers also organized: an association, a women
comittee, a cooperative and the Family Agricultural
School.

24. Are they alone? How did agroecology start in Brazil?

25. 1. Agroecology as movement, practice and science
1.1. Agroecology is a movement and practice
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) agronomist and Students of Agronomy organizations –
active at that time);

26. b) Farmer´s organizations (supported by the Grassroot
Eclesial Communities – CEBs, linked to the Liberation
Theology 1 – part of the Catholic Church).
Spirituality is important, but it has to be engaged in social
and political processes!
Organization of Unions, Associations and Political Parties –
especially the Labour Party (founded in 1980).
According to farmers: CEBs was the mother of everything!
1John Paul II stopped the Liberation Theology in Latin
America! We hope that Pope Franchesco will reinforce it
now!

27. c) NGOs that gave technical support. These NGOs formed
the network called Rede PTA – Projects for Alternative
Technologies. The network finished at the end of the 90´s.
http://www.agroecologia.org.
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.
2014 ANA organized III National
Meeting of Agroecology: 2000 people;
70% farmers; 50% women; many young
people.

28. It shows that agroecology started as a movement in
Brazil! Since the beginning, these movement had and
continues to have 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! Agroecology is practice!
Santa Fé Farm: our slogan is
agroecology!

29. Why is important to develop agroecology together with
farmers?
Because they bring together knowledge, and this
knowledge has been neglected by scientists, especially
after Green Revolution technologies.
They do not bring only
knowledge, but wisdom:
(Barrera Bassols Zinck,
Geoderma 111, 2003)

30. 1.2. Agroecology is ALSO a science
Agroecology was shortly defined as the science to study,
design and manage agroecosystems.
- 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).

31. On the scientific side, the Brazilian Association of Agroecology
(ABA) was created in 2004 (http://www.aba-agroecologia.org.br).
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…

32. Therefore, in Brasil, agroecology is a movement, a
practice and a Science (Wezel et al., 2009. Agron. Sustain. Dev. -
available on line).

33. To scale up agroecological experiences, 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, and professors attend these meetings

34. During these meetings,
everybody learns.
From these meetings
arise the demands of
the farmers and
questions of the
researchers.
We also answer
research questions.

35. Brazilian policy for agroecology and organic production
To scale up agroecological experiences, appropriate
public policies are necessary (De Schutter, 2011 - Report
submitted by the Special Rapporteur on the right to food, United
Nations).
What is happening in this
respect in Brazil?

36. Since Lula, the Federal Government is supporting the
family farmers “as never before in our history”.
Two important Brazilian Programs to support family
agriculture (PAA and PNAE).
The Federal Government buys food from family
agriculture and gives it for free to social institutions
(nursery schools, jails, hospitals etc.); also the schools are
obliged to buy at least 30% of their food from family
farmers.
These two programs are very important for the
agroecological family farmers. It enables the
commercialization of diversified products. If certified as
organic, the Government pays 30% more.

37. 2011. The Marcha das
Margaridas (The Peasant
Women demonstration in
Brasília) asked Dilma (our
presidenta) to launch the
national policy for
agroecology – she agreed.
DILMA (our presidenta) talking to the women!
Foto: arquivos da Contag. Cedido por Sara Pimenta
Foto: arquivos da Contag. Cedido por Sara Pimenta

38. The policy and the plan to implement the policy were
formulated in a participatory way (one of the few
participatory policies made in Brazil).
August 2012: the
policy was launched.
The plan was
launched October
17, 2013.

39. But why agroecology does not scale up more???
In 25 years: only 36% of the properties in São Joaquim
watershed are considered agroecological or in transition!
Agroforestry systems have the potential to transform the
monocultural coffee and pasture matrix, resulting in better
protection and connection of forest fragments.

40. I will point out one reason: the power of the agribusiness sector

41. Family Agriculture x Agribusiness (industrial agriculture) in Brazil
(IBGE, 2006)
Total of farms: 4367902 Total Area
Family Farms
Other
farms
Family
Farms
Other farms
Agribusiness produces mainly commodities – to export

42. Soybeans, cultivated in monoculture, occupies 35% of
the cultivated area.
Cultivated area - BRAZIL
Maize (24%)
Others (13%)
Sugar-cane (12%)
Soybeans (35%)
IBGE (2007)
Monoculture
Monoculture

43. Family Agriculture produces 70% of the food that reaches
the Brazilian tables! (IBGE, 2006)
Cassava Beans Maize Milk Chicken Pork
But it receives only 25% of the credits dedicated to agriculture!
The family farming is being squeezed to the bones and
becoming impoverished (van der Ploeg, Farming Matters, Dec., 2013: 8-11).

44. Social movements campaign
against the use of
pesticides in Brazil
On average we consume
around 5 litres of pesticides
per year per person.
Soybeans account for 45%
of the pesticide use.
Brazil imports more than 90%
of the K, around 50% of N
and P used in agriculture.
Thus, it is not sustainable.
Soil degradation. At least
22% of Brazilian soil shows
some level of degradation
(Bai et al., 2008).

45. If it is a matter of food security and food sovereignty,
should we Brazilians invest in the agribusiness sector to
produce soybeans to export or in the family agriculture?
Moreover, family farmers are tied to their environment.
The family farm is not just an economic enterprise. It is also
a place where continuity and culture are important.
They rely on nature, not on the industry, to provide the
resources for farming. The so called “ecosystem services”.

46. Biodiversity is more importante for soil quality, pest control,
polinators than external inputs such as pesticides and
modified organisms.
Therefore, farmers need autonomy to manage biodiversity;
ownership of the land, free access to water and seeds
(transgenic? Seeds controlled by a few big companies can not
be good).
There is a clear conflict
of interest between
agroecological and
“industrialized” farming.

47. Therefore we have to invert at least two things:
The credits and the land should be in the hands of the family farmers.
This means: agrarian reform.

48. These are political (ideological?), not technical and
scientific issues.
1/3 of the Brazilian parliament1 is formed by deputies
linked to the most conservative agribusiness sector.
Even for the Labour Party, it is not easy to handle
structural reform, such as agrarian reform!
(1COSTA, Sandra Helena Gonçalves. A questão agrária no Brasil e a
bancada ruralista no congresso nacional. 2012)

49. Thank you!
Obrigada!
“For agroecology, we need wisdom to work and patience to wait...”
Dadinho (agroecological farmer – Pedra Dourada – Minas Gerais).
Farmer´s
Organizations