Gender issues and sustainable development: The potential of agroecology in the northeast of Pará, Brazil

Abstract

World agriculture is facing many challenges in terms of food sovereignty. Firstly, the need to ensure a fair access to food (and good food) and basic necessities to a growing global population. Second, the necessity to include such actions within a more general perspective of dealing with poverty, inequality, and malnutrition worldwide, as well as contributing to a more sustainable management of natural and agricultural resources and biodiversity. The agroecological approach seems one of the most suitable option, because of its holistic nature regarding the use of natural resources and processes, which benefits both farmers, sustainable agriculture and healthy food consumption models. In addition, agroecology is designed to support more egalitarian social relations, such as those related to gender equality. Nonetheless, the analysis of the relations and the implications between agroecology and gender issues is still a quite unexplored issue. Therefore, the aim of this article is to critically analyse and highlight the main opportunities and constraints of agroecology in terms of greater sustainability and gender equality as well. The research was realized within some agroecological experiences carried out in the northeast of Brazilian Amazonia, where women farmers work mostly in the extractive agriculture and where agroecology is still in a preliminary phase by comparison with other regions of the country. Despite their scarce acknowledgment and access to resources, local women actively contribute to the biodiversity conservation and the transfer of traditional knowledge.