Experiências de agroecologia no Rio de Janeiro: contribuições para os objetivos de desenvolvimento sustentável

Abstract

This research aimed to analyze trends in the contributions of agroecological experiences in the state of Rio de Janeiro (RJ) to promote the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), or 2030 Agenda. At the local level, knowledge of these contributions can support subnational public intervention processes in different areas that strengthen the agroecological agendas as well as those for the fulfillment of the SDGs, especially considering the current dismantling of related policies at the federal level in Brazil. In addition, by aligning with a guideline from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for the adoption of the SDGs as a reference for the multidimensional evaluation of the agroecology (AE), it contributes to its recognition as the preferred model of sustainable agriculture on the scale of global governance witch is in dispute for international agribusiness and its “green” strategies. To meet these demands, the present research sought to generate an overview of such contributions, based on a perception survey carried out with 36 experiences from the six agroecological territories of RJ, through a structured questionnaire application based on subsidiary goals of certain SDGs. The adoption of the SDGs as a analytical framework, however, was not exempt from a critical view of the sustainable development model advocated by the United Nations (UN) and its new Agenda, which is an important part of the adopted bibliographic review, and included a general contextualization of AE approach practiced in Brazil and RJ, highlighting its political dimension and the protagonism of the networks. From the results obtained it was possible to observe some clear trends regarding the contributions of agroecological experiences in RJ towards the 2030 Agenda, mainly to SDGs 2, 12, 15 and more intensively, to 6. In a synthesis of the thematic areas involved, this means that: through the adoption of a sustainable agriculture model, agroecological experiences in RJ feed a responsible consumption and production chain and collaborate with the reduction of hunger, at the same time protecting terrestrial life and maintaining with emphasis the water quality. These results clearly demonstrate the multidimensionality of AE performances beyond mere productivity and point to further studies. With this work, it is also expected to contribute to political decision-making processes in areas that dialogue with the AE in the different territories of RJ, promoting a virtuous circle of mutual empowerment between agroecology and the SDGs what can inspire other references of sustainable development.