Research gaps in transitioning to agroecological transitions
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Research Gaps in Transitioning to Agroecological Systems
Participatory Action Research in Agroecology
One significant research gap in transitioning to agroecological systems is the limited application of participatory action research (PAR). Despite the broad scope of agroecological research, most studies focus on agroecology as a set of practices rather than incorporating participatory approaches. Only a small fraction of studies (23 out of 347) employ PAR, which is crucial for understanding the drivers and obstacles in agroecological transitions. Long-term research and trust between researchers and farmers are essential for effective PAR, yet the short-term nature of many projects poses a challenge.
Agroecology in Large-Scale Farming
Mainstreaming agroecology in large-scale farming presents another research gap. While smallholder farms have successfully adopted agroecological practices, large-scale farms, which cover a significant portion of the world's agricultural area, lag behind. Research is needed to address specific questions related to breeding for diversity, scalable complexity, managing cycles beyond fields and farms, sharing cultivated landscapes, and co-innovation with farmers and policymakers. These areas are critical for supporting sustainable transitions in large-scale farming.
Social-Ecological Sustainability and Governance
Agroecology's potential to promote social-ecological sustainability is well-recognized, but there are gaps in understanding the complex relationships between ecological functions, human well-being, and governance models. Research needs to focus on how agroecological practices can enhance ecosystem services, promote social learning and innovation, and integrate gender and feminist perspectives. Additionally, the political articulation of agroecology and the development of supportive public policies are crucial areas that require further exploration.
Symbolic Contexts and Recognition in Agroecological Transitions
The symbolic mechanisms around food systems' transitions are under-researched. There is a need to understand how different narratives and audiovisual messages influence the adoption of agroecological practices. Conventional farmers, in particular, express a need for recognition and repair of their subordinated role in the globalized food system. Further empirical research is needed to explore these symbolic contexts across different territories and socio-economic profiles.
Scaling Agroecology-Based Local Agri-Food Systems
Scaling agroecology to local agri-food systems reveals several emergent research gaps. These include overcoming the metabolic rift related to segregated activities along the food chain, sustainably feeding cities, and understanding the social subjects and governance arrangements needed for such transitions. Research should focus on reconstructing food metabolisms, territorial flows, and governance assemblages to place life at the center of the food system.
Socioeconomic Outcomes of Agroecological Transitions
There is a critical gap in understanding how agroecological practices affect socioeconomic outcomes such as income and working conditions. Studies show that while transitioning farms may face more difficult working conditions and lower incomes, fully transitioned agroecological farms can achieve stable profits and improved working conditions. Research should continue to explore these dynamics to provide insights into overcoming challenges during transitions.
Multidimensional and Multiscale Assessment Methods
Assessing agroecological transitions remains a methodological challenge. Existing assessment methods often fail to cover all necessary evaluation criteria, such as adaptability to local conditions, social interactions, temporal dynamics, and participatory approaches. Combining different assessment approaches could help cover these criteria and improve the evaluation of agroecological transitions.
Power Dynamics and Bottom-Up Governance
Understanding the dynamics of power and governance is crucial for agroecological transformations. There is a need to shift from top-down technocratic approaches to bottom-up forms of governance that enable community self-organization. Research should focus on the enabling and disabling conditions that shape agroecology transformations and the potential for communities to self-organize for sustainability and social justice.
Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation
The impact of agroecological approaches on climate change mitigation and adaptation in low- and middle-income countries is another area with significant knowledge gaps. Research should focus on the science of agroecology at the field and landscape level, assessing the quality and strength of evidence regarding its impact on climate change outcomes.
Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services
The potential of integrated and participatory ecosystem services (ES) assessments to support agroecological transitions is underexplored. Conducting collaborative and integrated assessments of ES bundles can enhance understanding of the ecological and social drivers of agroecological transitions. This approach can help design agroecological systems based on ES delivery and support transition management through shared knowledge and co-designed future objectives.
Conclusion
Addressing these research gaps is crucial for advancing agroecological transitions. By focusing on participatory approaches, large-scale farming, social-ecological sustainability, symbolic contexts, local agri-food systems, socioeconomic outcomes, assessment methods, power dynamics, climate change, and ecosystem services, researchers can support the development of sustainable and just food systems.
Sources and full results
Most relevant research papers on this topic
Agroecological Transitions: A Systematic Review of Research Approaches and Prospects for Participatory Action Methods
Agroecology in Large Scale Farming—A Research Agenda
How Does Agroecology Contribute to the Transitions towards Social-Ecological Sustainability?
Towards a Politics of Recognition: Exploring the Symbolic Contexts of Material Agroecological Transitions
An Operational Approach to Agroecology-Based Local Agri-Food Systems
Diversification supports farm income and improved working conditions during agroecological transitions in southern Brazil
Multidimensional and multiscale assessment of agroecological transitions. A review
From Transition to Domains of Transformation: Getting to Sustainable and Just Food Systems through Agroecology
Agroecology and climate change rapid evidence review : performance of agroecological approaches in low- and middle- income countries
How can integrated valuation of ecosystem services help understanding and steering agroecological transitions
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