Ecofeminist perspective of Food Sovereignty: the Agroecological Network in Moreno Maia Community in Brazilian Amazonia

Abstract

In agreement with the political proposal on Food Sovereignty, Agroecology suggests rural development strategies as an alternative to the industrialized corporate farming dominant model in the context of globalization. This essay analyses, from an ecofeminist approach, the agroecological transition process towards Food Soveignty of a group of peasant families from Moreno Maia community who participate in the Amazonian Agroecological Network in the Brazilian State of Acre.

In this essay we argue that, even nowadays, the agroecological analysis and the development projects are characterized by the lack of analysis of gender relations. Even though some proposals bring them closer to the ecofeminist approach, there are not many cases in which agrarian changes are linked to gender relations models.

Results of this research evidence that agroecological projects provide an opportunity for women to work and also to make their work visible and valued by others so that, at the same time, they can move forward to a more sustainable food and agriculture organization. This essay gives ideas to advance toward a necessary theoretical and practical marriage between Ecofeminism, Agroecology and Food Sovereignty.