Participatory system of guarantees – PSG of the Red de Mercados Agroecológicos de Bogotá Región RMABR. A contribution to the sustainability of agroecological producers and markets

Abstract

Following the development of a framework of sustainability indicators for the Red de Mercados Agroecológicos de Bogotá Región – RMABR, in 2016, it was identified, that only 56% of its producers were agroecological, while the remaining were mostly in the process of agroecological transition. To address this problem, this Participatory Action Research – PAR was carried out in 2016, which included the design, implementation, and evaluation of a PSG. The methodology was subdivided into five phases: participatory diagnosis, agreement on the same language, design of the Participatory System of Guarantees – PSG, pilot implementation, evaluation, and adjustment. The developed PSG encompasses a structure with a PSG committee and certification visiting teams; a justification, definition, and principles of agroecology; formats for participatory certification, agroecological transition plans, seal, and sanctions. PSG is operating, it is cheaper than the Third Party Certification – TPC, it allows certifying producers giving coherence to markets and confidence to consumers, promotes agroecology in producers and allows them to sell in local markets, and has generated cohesion in the RMABR.

Keywords

• alternative certification systems
• agroecological transition
• participatory methodologies
• promotion of agroecology
• promotion of sustainability
• challenges of the agroecological transition