Environmental citizenship and scaling of agroecology in the San Isidro Peasant Reservation Zone, Pradera, Valle del Cauca, Colombia

Abstract

The exercise of environmental citizenship for the defense, care and protection of life is increasingly important for Latin American peoples and communities. This research article presents the exercise of environmental citizenship based on agroecological practices for the defense of life in the Peasant Reservation Zone (PRZ) of San Isidro, Pradera, Valle del Cauca. Methodologically, eight drivers for the promotion and territorial scaling of agroecology were analyzed namely: (1) crises that promote the search for alternatives; (2) social organizations; (3) effective agroecological practices; (4) constructivist teaching-learning processes; (5) mobilizing discourse; (6) external alliances; (7) favorable markets; (8) favorable political opportunities. It was found that the exercise of environmental citizenship based on agroecological practices for the defense of life has achieved a positive scaling up of agroecology in which access to markets and political opportunities still need to be improved. Regarding these two drivers, farmers face concentrated and organized violence from the State and multilateral agencies. It is concluded that environmental citizenship based on agroecological practices allows cultivating biodiversity, preserving water and conserving soils and maintaining food sovereignty and the political organization of the community to confront the global agri-food system.