Agroecology, plant domestication, and socio-biodiversity: (re)building the coevolutionary process with native fruits

Abstract

This study is based on the premise that it is imperative to promote plant domestication processes that foster the biological and cultural diversity of the planet, given the model of hegemonic globalization underway is causing damage to socio-biodiversity in several territories. We aimed to build and use, in a participatory way and based on the principles of agroecology, indicators for social and environmental characterization of matrices of native fruit trees of the Atlantic Forest biome. As a methodology, the action research was adopted. We worked with groups of farmers from the Núcleo Luta Camponesa of the Rede Ecovida of Agroecology, from the State of Paraná, Brazil. Some of the results are the selection of 42 matrices of seven native fruit species and the conclusion that agroecology has the potential to (re)build plant domestication processes that value socio-biodiversity, including native fruits.