A sinergia entre ciência, prática e movimento social na construção do conhecimento agroecológico no estado do Tocantins

Abstract

The transformations in agri-food systems, driven by the Green Revolution, have brought greater productivity to the agricultural sector but have also caused damage to the environment and human health. Although agriculture has been fundamental to the development of civilizations, it currently faces a crisis due to the indiscriminate exploitation of the environment. Agroecology emerges as an alternative to mitigate these problems. In Brazil, the topic is approached as a science, practice, and social movement. In this context, this study investigated how agroecology, based on these three aspects, has contributed to the construction of agroecological knowledge in Tocantins, located in the Legal Amazon. Understanding the scenario of agroecology in the state can strengthen the knowledge-building process, create networking opportunities, and generate public policies for the sector. To achieve this objective, quali-quantitative methods were used, including systematic literature review, bibliometrics, narrative review, and content analysis. As a science, it was observed that scientific production on agroecology in the Legal Amazon is limited in international databases, being even scarcer when it comes to Tocantins. However, the information collected in scientific environments of the Brazilian Agroecology Association revealed greater involvement with the theme, with significantly more dissemination material of experiences. A diversity of institutions and researchers involved was identified, reflecting the plurality of agroecology. As a practice, agroecological experiences are predominantly found in territories of traditional peoples and communities, such as indigenous areas, quilombola settlements, and settlements. Social movements play a crucial role in promoting agroecology, with the Tocantinense Agroecology Articulation Network (ATA) standing out, bringing together various movements and organizations in favor of promoting agroecology. The Agroecology Study Centers (NEAs), which emerged as a structure of interaction between science, practice, and social movement, and as a public policy demanded by the movements, managed to bridge academia with communities and society. However, the dismantling of public policies promoting agroecology starting in 2016 and the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic led both social movements and NEAs to mainly operate in resistance. With the recent change of government, more aligned with environmental and social causes, there are expectations of a rapprochement between the government, social movements, and civil society. This could result in the restructuring of public policies promoting agroecology. However, despite the diversity of actors involved in agroecology in Tocantins, there is a distance between these groups, hindering the creation of an agroecology network in the state. This challenge needs to be overcome to strengthen the agroecological movement and take advantage of the current favorable national political context.