Transforming Food Systems through Agroecology

The Poor Prole’s Almanac

Bleav + The Poor Prole’s Alamanac

Home & Garden, Science, Nature, Leisure, Education, How To

5 • 761 Ratings

🗓️ 22 July 2024

⏱️ 57 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Have modern agricultural practices led us down an unsustainable path, and are the so-called "green" alternatives really any better? Discover the truth as we explore the evolution of alternative agriculture and unpack the misleading narratives surrounding terms like "organic" and "regenerative." We'll delve into the historical roots and political dimensions of agroecology, examining how this vital movement emerged in Latin America as a counter to the top-down failures of the Green Revolution. With a focus on context, we spotlight how language shapes our understanding and approach to building future food systems. In this episode, we shine a light on the principles and practices that set agroecology apart, emphasizing its local, knowledge-intensive methods that contrast sharply with industrial agricultural models. Learn how agroecology has become a cornerstone of resistance among peasant and indigenous communities, fostering resilience and autonomy in the face of global destabilization. Through global perspectives, we'll showcase how agroecology supports biodiversity and traditional foodways, while also considering scalable, sustainable alternatives that integrate appropriate technologies to enhance community well-being. Join us as we explore innovative small-scale projects and successful agroecological movements worldwide, questioning the romanticized view of peasant farming and the efficiency of growing one's own food. We propose a model that aligns crop selection with native ecological conditions, promoting harmony with the land and addressing issues of alienation and redundancy. Ultimately, we underscore the importance of justice, traditional land stewardship, and decentralized food systems in creating a sustainable agricultural future for all beings, amidst ecological and colonial challenges. For sources and to read more about this subject, visit: www.agroecologies.org To support this podcast, join our patreon for early episode access at https://www.patreon.com/poorprolesalmanac For PPA Writing Content, visit: www.agroecologies.org For PPA Restoration Content, visit: www.restorationagroecology.com For PPA Merch, visit: www.poorproles.com For PPA Native Plants, visit: www.nativenurseries.org To hear Tomorrow, Today, our sister podcast, visit: www.tomorrowtodaypodcast.org/ Agroecology, Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Sustainable Agriculture, Global South, Peasant Resistance Movements, Community Agriculture, Small-scale Farming, Food Systems, Justice, Restorative Agroecology, Indigenous Peoples, Decolonization, Biodiversity, Food Security, Climate Change, Traditional Foodways, Community Ownership, Collective Effort, Sustainable Futures, Political Dimensions

Transcript

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0:00.0	The current state of agriculture is untenable, driven by capital and full of unsustainable inputs which destroy our ecosystems.
0:23.3	Unfortunately, exploring alternatives to conventional agriculture is rife with greenwashing,
0:29.3	misdirection, agendas driven by greed and cult of personalities.
0:33.8	It's difficult to understand and contextualize the history of agriculture, specifically permanent agriculture,
0:40.7	regenerative agriculture, commodity crops, biodynamic farming, organics, and permaculture,
0:47.7	not to mention the slew of other ethics involved around growing food.
0:52.2	The development of alternative agriculture movements are inevitably influenced by the
0:56.4	world the farmers and organizers live within.
0:59.7	There are tremendous demands placed on all of us as we try and survive, and success within
1:04.7	the system often requires abandoning personal principles.
1:08.7	We normally use historical context to help us explain why and how movements
1:13.5	grow, failed, or succeeded, but we often fall short of taking the same historical context
1:19.9	when looking at our food systems and how they should develop into the future. We all use language
1:25.9	to describe the world and arrange our thoughts, and that language
1:29.2	changes as cultures shift. Every word has buried within it a myriad of social factors and influences.
1:36.7	Social movement-based terminology itself often is echoed into broader conversations,
1:41.5	and in this normalization, slowly dilutes itself. When any term becomes
1:46.8	popularized or critiqued, such as organic or regenerative when speaking of agriculture, its application
1:53.3	becomes less and less meaningful. Instead, they're increasingly defined by how those terms react or
1:59.6	exist in relation to their alternatives. For example,
2:04.1	if we understood organic practices, how does it influence our understanding of the term regenerative
2:09.9	within agriculture? Many view regenerative as something beyond organic, simply by its
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