Agroecological farm in Brazil, symbolizing sustainability and resistance.

Agroecology: Building a Sustainable Food Future in Brazil

Soraya Malik in Climate & Environment August 2025 • 4 min read.

"How agroecological movements are resisting agribusiness and reshaping food systems for resilience and equity."

The global conversation around food systems is intensifying, spanning various disciplines and underscoring the need for sustainable and equitable approaches to food production. These discussions gained urgency after the financial and food crises of 2008, highlighting the crucial role of agriculture in ensuring food security worldwide.

In Brazil, agriculture is a cornerstone of the economy. In 2011, agribusiness contributed 22.15% of the country's GDP, reaching approximately 1 trillion Reais (21% of GDP) in 2013. However, this dominant agribusiness model faces increasing opposition due to its reliance on foreign capital, monoculture farming, biotechnology, heavy mechanization, and hierarchical structures. These practices often lead to significant environmental and socioeconomic consequences, sparking resistance from agroecological movements.

Emerging in the 1980s, agroecology in Brazil promotes an alternative agricultural practice that emphasizes ecological balance, social justice, and local community empowerment. Although data on agroecological practices in Brazil remain limited, family farming is a central focus, representing a significant portion of the movement. The 2006 Agricultural Census revealed that family farms constitute 84.4% of agricultural establishments, utilizing 24.3% of the cultivated land and employing 74.4% of the agricultural workforce, while contributing 9% of the country's total GDP.

How Agroecology Challenges Agribusiness

Agroecological farm in Brazil, symbolizing sustainability and resistance.

The agroecological movement in Brazil has emerged in response to growing concerns about environmental degradation and the marginalization of small-scale farmers. Agroecology focuses on managing agroecosystems rather than relying on external inputs, offering a barrier to technologies introduced by the "Green Revolution". This makes the movement a counter-hegemonic force against the dominant agribusiness practices in the country.

Building on the theories of Laclau and Mouffe, the agroecological movement can be understood through the lens of neo-Gramscian discourse. Hegemony operates as a political and social construct where a particular idea about reality dominates. This involves alliances of forces across state and economic spheres, supported by civil society. The agroecological movement aims to resist agribusiness hegemony by reconstructing aspects of social reality, fostering multiple possibilities for social organization.

Association and Engagement: Collaborating with other social movements and non-governmental organizations.
Knowledge Construction: Empowering small farmers to create and legitimize their own knowledge.
Shifting Power Dynamics: Influencing public institutions and markets.

A field study conducted in Araponga, Minas Gerais, provides insight into how the agroecological movement operates at a local level. Through interviews with various actors, the research uncovers the meanings and values attributed to agroecology. These insights are analyzed using the neo-Gramscian discourse approach, highlighting agroecology as a counter-hegemonic discourse within Brazilian agriculture.

Towards a Sustainable and Equitable Food System

The agroecological movement in Brazil offers a compelling vision for a sustainable and equitable food future. By challenging the dominance of agribusiness and promoting alternative approaches to food production, the movement empowers local communities, protects the environment, and fosters social justice. Through association and engagement, knowledge construction, and shifting power dynamics, agroecology is paving the way for a more resilient and just food system in Brazil.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1590/1984-9230778, Alternate LINK

Title: Movimento Agroecológico No Brasil: A Construção Da Resistência À Luz Da Abordagem Neogramsciana

Subject: Automotive Engineering

Journal: Organizações & Sociedade

Publisher: FapUNIFESP (SciELO)

Authors: Yuna Fontoura, Flávia Naves

Published: 2016-06-01

Everything You Need To Know

What is the core difference between Agroecology and Agribusiness in Brazil?

The primary distinction lies in their approach to agriculture. Agribusiness, dominant in Brazil, relies on foreign capital, monoculture farming, biotechnology, heavy mechanization, and hierarchical structures. Agroecology, on the other hand, emphasizes ecological balance, social justice, and local community empowerment, focusing on managing agroecosystems rather than relying on external inputs. This fundamental difference leads to contrasting environmental and socioeconomic outcomes.

How does the Agroecological movement in Brazil challenge Agribusiness?

The agroecological movement resists Agribusiness through various strategies. It acts as a counter-hegemonic force, opposing the practices of Agribusiness. The movement achieves this through Association and Engagement with other social movements, empowering small farmers through Knowledge Construction, and Shifting Power Dynamics within public institutions and markets. This holistic approach allows Agroecology to challenge Agribusiness on multiple fronts.

What role do family farms play in the context of Agroecology in Brazil?

Family farming is central to the Agroecological movement in Brazil. According to the 2006 Agricultural Census, family farms represent a significant portion of agricultural establishments. They utilize a considerable percentage of cultivated land and employ a large segment of the agricultural workforce. They also contribute to the nation's GDP. This highlights the importance of family farms in promoting sustainable agriculture and community empowerment within the Agroecological framework.

Can you explain the neo-Gramscian discourse approach in relation to the Agroecological movement?

The neo-Gramscian discourse approach helps understand the Agroecological movement as a counter-hegemonic force against the dominance of Agribusiness. Hegemony, in this context, is the prevailing idea of reality. The Agroecological movement, drawing on the theories of Laclau and Mouffe, aims to challenge this hegemony by reconstructing aspects of social reality. This involves fostering multiple possibilities for social organization, creating a vision for a more sustainable and equitable food system.

What are the key strategies employed by the Agroecological movement to transform the food system in Brazil?

The Agroecological movement utilizes several key strategies. These include Association and Engagement with other social movements and NGOs, Knowledge Construction by empowering small farmers, and Shifting Power Dynamics within public institutions and markets. By employing these strategies, Agroecology aims to challenge the dominance of Agribusiness, protect the environment, empower local communities, and foster social justice, ultimately paving the way for a more resilient and just food system in Brazil.