Exploring Agroecological Transition Pathways: The Case of Family Livestock Farmers in Northern Uruguay

Abstract

Agroecology represents one of the main alternatives in Uruguay and other countries to production models generated by the green revolution. In Uruguay, agroecology has become more popular but is still marginal, despite the existence of a national plan (Law 19717) that promotes it. The implementation of agroecology needs a knowledge generation system to support it; however, research on agroecological transition processes is still incipient. The objective of this work is to improve the knowledge of the family livestock farmers’ decision-making processes through the study of socio-productive practices, and consequently contribute to actions and public policies closer to farmers. The practices highlighted in this work allowed a typology elaboration that represents the possible pathways through which family livestock farmers move towards agroecology. The agroecological transition is conjugated in plural.