Sustainable Agri-Food Systems Case Studies in Transitions Towards Sustainability from France and Brazil : CaseStudies in Transitions Towards Sustainability from France and Brazil

Building on recent scholarship in the sociology of food, Claire Lamine uses in-depth case studies from France and Brazil to compile a critical survey of social science approaches to sustainability transitions in agrifood systems. Lamine addresses the diverse pathways of transition encountered across multiple levels, from the farm through farmers’ networks and food chains, to the territorial scale of regions. She also explores the efforts made by those involved in the agricultural world to create new connections between agriculture, food, environment and health, while also taking social equity issues into account. Lamine’s work adopts a comparative perspective to explore the translation of agroecology into government programmes and the specific modes of governance involved in France and Brazil - two countries that pioneer in implementing agroecology yet which differ both in visions and context. Providing new options for understanding the complex issue of agrifood transitions, this book will make an impact for those studying food systems, geography, sociology, politics and agriculture. Cover Half title Series Title Copyright Contents Acknowledgements List of Acronyms Introduction 1 A dynamic and pragmatist approach to sustainability transitions in agri-food systems: Building blocks I. A dynamic mapping of sociological approaches to food systems’ sustainable transitions II. Towards a systemic, dynamic and pragmatist approach to agri-food systems transitions III. Key issues around food system transitions and challenges for social scientists 2 Sustainability transition processes at the farm scale: A new agricultural ethos? I. Ecologization trajectories: Case studies from organic agriculture and from pesticide reduction II. Changes in farmer identity: A new agricultural ethos? III. Farming with uncertainty IV. Farming with nature: Nature and technique in ecologized farming Conclusion 3 The role of advisers and collective dynamics in agroecological transitions I. Transformations in the landscape of advisory systems and collective dynamics II. Spatial and social proximity and webs of legitimization III. Production and circulation of knowledge Conclusion 4 Sustainability transitions at the food chain scale I. Lock-in mechanisms against input reduction and triggers of change at the scale of food chains II. Redefining interdependencies by building one’s own sociotechnical system (Biocoop) III. Agreco: Territorial agroecology or conventionalized organic agriculture? Conclusion 5 Sustainability transitions at the territorial scale in France and Brazil: The role of governance innovations I. An analytical framework to address territorial ecological transitions II. The Drôme valley III. The Southern Ardèche case IV. The Serra do Rio region in Brazil V. The relevance of the regional scale for studying ecological transitions 6 The process of political construction of organic agriculture and agroecology in Brazil and in France: Alliances and controversies I. Pathways of politicization of ecological agricultures in France II. The politicization of agroecology in Brazil III. Paraná: A pioneer dynamic that is hindered by state scale political changes IV. What does the confrontation of the Brazilian and French cases teach us? Conclusion 7 Sustainable agri-food systems and social justice: Crossed lessons from the Brazilian and the French experiences I. The affirmation of the concept of food and nutritional security in Brazil as an outcome of a convergence of social movements actions and claims II. The territorial approach: Facilitator of the reconnection between agriculture, food, environment and health with a concern for social justice Conclusion References Index Building on recent scholarship in the sociology of food, Claire Lamine uses in-depth case studies from France and Brazil to compile a critical survey of social science approaches to sustainability transitions in agri-food systems. Lamine addresses the diverse pathways of transition encountered across multiple levels, from the farm through farmers' networks and food chains, to the territorial scale of regions. She also explores the efforts made by those involved in the agricultural world to create new connections between agriculture, food, environment and health, while also taking social equity issues into account. The book adopts a comparative perspective to explore the translation of agroecology into government programmes and the specific modes of governance involved in France and Brazil - two countries that pioneer in implementing agroecology yet which differ both in visions and context. Providing new options for understanding the complex issue of agri-food transitions, this book will make an impact for those studying food systems, geography, sociology, politics and agriculture.