Agroecological beacons: a methodology for scaling up agroecology in Latin America

Abstract

The objective of this article is to propose methodological reflections on the importance of the strategy of creating agroecological lighthouses as a way for agroecologically based rural development. For this, it is based on the description and analysis of a particular experience of conformation of agroecological lighthouses in the Province of Oriente, in the department of Cundinamarca (Colombia). At the same time, it proposes a series of methodological discussions that show us the enormous potential of agroecological lighthouses in generating transformations within the local or national agri-food system. It is argued that the main strength of this strategy consists mainly in the potential that is generated from the broad articulation of different local actors. In turn, it is considered that such articulation constitutes a fundamental element in the current process of scaling up agroecology in Latin America. It is concluded that popular communication is a central element, articulator of the network and agent of transformations in the local or regional agri-food system. In this process, the different experiences articulated in the network have the possibility of complementing and/or reinforcing their characteristics in relation to those of the territory through the definition of common objectives and priorities, as well as the permanent dynamization of the ties that articulate the net.

Keywords

• agroecological lighthouses
• scaling up agroecology
• methodologies for rural development
• colombia.