La generación de graves problemas de naturaleza social, económica y ecológica tras la implementación de la Agricultura Industrializada en el primer mundo y de la Revolución Verde en el tercero durante este siglo, ha provocado respuestas... more
La generación de graves problemas de naturaleza social, económica y ecológica tras la implementación de la Agricultura Industrializada en el primer mundo y de la Revolución Verde en el tercero durante este siglo, ha provocado respuestas tanto de movimientos sociales como de los estamentos científicos que desde un punto de vista amplio se hallan implicados en la elaboración de estrategias de desarrollo rural. Ello ha generado una crítica a los modelos de investigación y transferencia tecnológica hasta ahora vigentes y la propuesta de nuevas metodologías que pretenden corregir la degradación que aquellos modelos ocasionan tanto en la naturaleza como en la sociedad. No obstante, tales propuestas abarcan un amplio abanico que va desde las elaboradas por los Centros Internacionales de la Revolución Verde en un intento de adaptarse a los nuevos tiempos, hasta aquellas que conllevan una fuerte crítica al conocimiento científico "formal': En la siguiente comunicación nos proponemos: 1. Caracterizar las nuevas metodologías de investigación en función de su génesis y su adscripción a los distintos paradigmas científicos. 2. Analizar desde el punto de vista crítico las aportaciones de cada metodologia al desarrollo de la Agroecología.
In order to provide a mechanism for managing risks to agriculture associated with climate variability, there has been an ongoing effort in recent years to provide and apply seasonal, probabilistic climate forecasts (SCFs) for upcoming... more
In order to provide a mechanism for managing risks to agriculture associated with climate variability, there has been an ongoing effort in recent years to provide and apply seasonal, probabilistic climate forecasts (SCFs) for upcoming months up to one year. Conclusions of a 2005 ...
In Western Australia, a number of highly organised and well-resourced farming systems groups with a strong focus on their local district have evolved. These groups have originated and continue to function under the control of farmer... more
In Western Australia, a number of highly organised and well-resourced farming systems groups with a strong focus on their local district have evolved. These groups have originated and continue to function under the control of farmer members. In this paper, we look at the activities of three wheatbelt-based groups (the Liebe, Mingenew-Irwin, and Facey groups) in the context of farming systems research and extension. The strength of each of the groups clearly lies in the dedication of grower members to the development of knowledge relevant to their local conditions. Through surveys of farmer members and discussion by a range of specialist sub-committees, priority activities for the groups are identified with an emphasis on testing and adapting technology to the local system. The groups have developed strong relationships with key researchers and agribusiness companies in their region and use these contacts to find other specialists when needed. A further feature of the operation of th...
Julio A. Berdegué is the President of the International Network on Farming Systems Research Methodology (RIMISP). His current work focuses on Internet-based information and knowledge systems for agricultural and rural development,... more
Julio A. Berdegué is the President of the International Network on Farming Systems Research Methodology (RIMISP). His current work focuses on Internet-based information and knowledge systems for agricultural and rural development, privatised and decentralized extension systems for the rural poor, and rural poverty- environmental degradation interactions. Germán Escobar is a sustainable development specialist with the Interamerican Institute for Cooperation on
