The XI Brazilian Conference of Agroecology gathered about 3,500 participants from 4 to 7 November 2019, at the Federal University of Sergipe (UFS). The event's opening highlighted the role of those who cultivate agroecology daily:representatives of peasants, farmers, indigenous peoples and quilombolas in the physical and symbolic areas of Agroecology.

With the motto “Ecology of Knowledge: Science, Culture and Art in the Democratization of Food and Agricultural Systems”, the conference carried out showing of agroecological knowledge based on ecology, where all the elements of an ecosystem are important. The activities were based on horizontal knowledge showing by giving equal value to the university degree and to the farmers' and community leaders' experiences.

The Ecology of Knowledge is a theoretical, methodological and political approach that recognizes and places in critical and permanent dialogue the different knowledge systems built in universities, research centers, federal institutes, schools, as well as in rural and urban communities. This approach puts into question and counters the colonizing, Eurocentric, racist, patriarchal, LGBTQI+ phobic and ethnogenocidal perspective.

By defending agroecology as a science that is critical and in dialogue with culture and popular art, the participants affirmed the need for scientific-academic institutions to be guided by social justice and to recognize the voices and knowledge of historically subordinated subjects, opening up horizons towards creating a society structured by cognitive and epistemic justice. Thus, the participants of the conference reiterated that Agroecology - as a science, movement and practice - recognizes and builds knowledge to insert into the struggle for a fair and equal society and in dialogue with the daily practices of the people of the countryside, waters, forests and cities. From this perspective, it reaffirms itself as one of the interpretative keys that challenge us to find a new academic / scientific practice.

The conference concluded with the following agreements:

• The agroecological researchs are based on the sustainability approach.
• Agroecology is the sustainable solution to the model.
• Agroecological farmers' markets are a communication space between producers and consumers.
• Trusted labelling is required.
• Science does not think of life if it does not think of agroecology.
• Ecological economics should be seen as a dimension like political economy.
• Commercialization based on trust are built  in the territories.
• The school snack (diet) or school menus should help preserve identity and cultures.
• There is no possibility of having diversified systems and agrobiodiversity, if there is no focus on agroecology.
• There is no agroecology without feminism and there is nothing in the world if there is no agroecology.

To read the Sergipana letter click here  

Photo credit: Saulo Coelho/Embrapa